Putin Claims Rapid Gains by Russian Forces in Eastern Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russian forces are advancing more rapidly in eastern Ukraine, capturing several square kilometers daily. This marks a significant shift in the pace of the offensive in the Donbas region, according to reports from Reuters and AFP.

Despite Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region on August 6, Russian forces, which currently control 18 percent of Ukrainian territory, have been making swift progress in eastern Ukraine, particularly towards the strategically important city of Pokrovsk. Putin highlighted that the Russian military is now gaining control over entire square kilometers of territory, a notable increase from previous advances of just 200-300 meters.