Battle of Donbas

Russian troops are continuing their counterattacks in response to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast, but as of September 12, they have achieved only minimal progress. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that the limited success may be due to ongoing Ukrainian offensive operations and defensive counterattacks in the area.

Ukrainian civilians were seen fleeing areas near the front line on Wednesday as Russian troops continued to advance in the eastern Donetsk region.

Russian forces are now positioned just 10 kilometers from the outskirts of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. This advancement comes amid ongoing conflicts in the region, where Ukrainian forces have been engaged in various operations.

The village of Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region of Ukraine has reportedly been seized by the Russian army, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense in Moscow quoted by "France Presse." This development marks a significant territorial gain for Russian forces, as Bilohorivka was one of the few remaining settlements in the district under Ukrainian control.

Sir Richard Barrons, former leader of the British army's joint command, has issued a stark warning, suggesting that Ukraine may be on the brink of defeat by the Russian army this year. Concerns over the potential for Ukrainian losses stem from critical shortages in ammunition, troops, and air defenses, compounded by Russia's preparation for a summer offensive.

Reports from the Russian Telegram channel ASTRA indicate that the Ukrainian military launched an attack on a training ground in the Luhansk region, which is currently occupied by Russian forces. The assault, carried out with unidentified rockets, resulted in at least 10 casualties, according to ASTRA. The exact number of fatalities and injuries remains uncertain.

Day 713 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

The Ministry of Defense stated that Russian air defenses shot down 12 missiles.
Ukrainian forces repelled eight Russian attacks on the left bank of the Dnieper and 44 in the direction of Bakhmut, Avdeyevka, Marin and Zaporizhzhia, the General Staff of the Armed Forces announced, adding that artillery strikes were also carried out towards Kherson.

The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, announced that the Russian Air Defense Forces had destroyed a drone launched by Ukrainian forces towards the Russian capital.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the foreign ministers of the Alliance members reiterated their determination to support Ukraine on its way to the Alliance, as well as its defense in the war with Russia.

He announced on his Telegram channel that Ukrainian forces are advancing in the area north of Bakhmut and that Russian troops have urgently gone to that area.