Russia Pursues War of Attrition to Capture Donbas

The Federal Government of Russia is executing a steady war of attrition to capture the remaining Ukrainian-held territories in the Donbas region, specifically within Donetsk. Russian troops are utilizing gradual infiltration and heavy glide bombs to exhaust defenses, with intelligence suggesting they could reach the critical defensive belt of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk by early 2027. Some analysts argue the current slow pace of advance could extend the conflict into the 2030s.

Ukraine is relying on drone-and-infantry units to hold the high ground, though military experts warn that a shortage of air-defense ammunition and logistics issues are critical vulnerabilities. In 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed creating an internationally monitored demilitarized zone in the Donbas to end the fighting, but the Kremlin rejected the offer.

Analysts suggest that seizing the Donbas is an interim goal for Vladimir Putin, whose broader strategic objectives aim to bring Ukraine back into the Russian sphere of influence.