Russian forces have intensified their attacks on Ukrainian positions in the east, with heavy fighting reported near the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Ukraine's military confirmed 261 combat engagements over a 24-hour period on Saturday, more than doubling the daily average from previous days and marking the most intense day of combat so far this year. The escalation comes as U.S. and Russian officials prepare for peace talks in Saudi Arabia, sparking concerns in Kyiv and European capitals over being sidelined from negotiations.
Moscow's latest offensive has focused on securing ground south of Pokrovsk, an area critical to Ukrainian supply lines. Russian forces have captured a string of villages in recent months and are now pressing toward the city, raising fears that its fall could open new avenues for deeper advances. Ukraine's military has sought to push back, reporting gains in certain areas. Viktor Trehubov, a Ukrainian military spokesman, said Ukrainian forces had successfully recaptured the village of Pishchane, five kilometers south of Pokrovsk.
"It isn't so much the result of something collapsing for the Russians or some kind of magical weapon being delivered to Ukraine, no. Certain organizational actions were taken to help Ukrainians act more effectively," he said.
Russia has also stepped up its aerial bombardment, launching a wave of drone and missile strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia had fired approximately 1,220 aerial bombs, more than 850 drones, and 40 missiles at Ukraine over the past week, marking a significant increase from the previous week's 1,206 bombs, 750 drones, and 10 missiles. Ukraine's air defenses intercepted nearly all but two of the 143 drones Russia deployed overnight, but some managed to cause damage, setting fire to homes in the Kyiv region and destroying a residential area in Mykolaiv.
The surge in hostilities coincides with diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the nearly three-year-long war. U.S. and Russian representatives are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days as part of President Donald Trump's push for negotiations. Trump's strategy has raised concerns in Kyiv, as Ukraine has not been invited to take part in the initial discussions. Ukrainian officials have emphasized the need for coordination with Western allies before engaging directly with Moscow. A NATO official speaking to Reuters predicted that Moscow would increase its military pressure ahead of the talks. "I would expect a much stronger push. I would expect that we would see ... a lot of Russian efforts to advance," the official said.
European leaders are also scrambling to respond to Trump's unilateral diplomatic efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron announced an emergency summit of European leaders on Monday to discuss the Ukraine war and broader security issues. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to attend a European Union meeting in Brussels, where EU officials have been urged to present "ideas" for a peace framework or risk being excluded from negotiations.
Russia's latest battlefield maneuvers appear to be aimed at strengthening its position ahead of talks. By intensifying its ground and aerial offensives, Moscow may be seeking to improve its leverage at the negotiating table. Ukraine has repeatedly warned that any settlement must include security guarantees and cannot be dictated unilaterally by external powers. While Ukrainian officials have maintained cautious optimism about the country's battlefield performance, they remain wary of Trump's diplomatic approach and its potential consequences.
