Russian forces close to Druzhkivka as fighting intensifies along Ukraine's fortress belt
Russian troops have advanced to within 15 km of the eastern Ukrainian town of Druzhkivka, part of a strategic corridor known as the fortress belt, while residents endure ongoing artillery and drone attacks.
Russian forces have moved to within 15 kilometres of Druzhkivka, an eastern Ukrainian town situated on a key supply route that links a series of urban settlements described as the "fortress belt". The area has seen extensive damage, with destroyed buildings, charred vehicles and a constant presence of artillery fire and attack drones.
Residents who have remained describe daily life under fire. Iryna Litovchenko, 56, said she cannot sleep and that strangers have taken her in amid the rubble. She added that her home has been completely destroyed. Zoya, a 63-year-old market vendor, said she chooses to stay despite the risk of bomb strikes, noting that she was born and raised in the town.
The front line, stretching roughly 1,200 kilometres across eastern and southern Ukraine, continues to witness the flattening of apartment blocks, markets and shops, rendering many communities uninhabitable. Ukrainian authorities have deployed netting on roads to shield civilians from drone attacks and use unmanned ground vehicles to supply front-line positions and evacuate wounded soldiers.
The advance is part of Russia's broader objective to breach the fortress belt and gain control of the Donbas region, a goal that has proven difficult for Moscow after more than four years of conflict.