{"id":623381,"date":"2026-10-07T23:40:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/10\/623381\/ukraine-s-counteroffensive-foiled-russia-s-attempts-to-encircle-cities-in-donbas\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T01:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T22:14:08","slug":"ukraine-s-counteroffensive-foiled-russia-s-attempts-to-encircle-cities-in-donbas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/10\/623381\/ukraine-s-counteroffensive-foiled-russia-s-attempts-to-encircle-cities-in-donbas\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine\u2019s counteroffensive foiled Russia\u2019s attempts to encircle cities in Donbas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ukraine\u2019s counteroffensive in the north of Donbas<\/strong> thwarted Russian forces\u2019 attempts to encircle cities that remain under Ukrainian<\/strong> control. Overall, Russia\u2019s<\/strong> advance has slowed sharply.<\/p>\n

Western analysts estimate that Russian forces\u2019 territorial gains in 2026<\/strong> were only slightly greater than their losses. This estimate differs significantly from the Russian Defense Ministry\u2019s<\/strong> claim that more than 5,000 square kilometers<\/strong> had been captured.<\/p>\n

The Finnish group Black Bird Group<\/strong> identified September<\/strong> as Russia\u2019s<\/strong> worst month for net territorial gains since June 2023<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

According to Western analysts, during Operation Vivaldi<\/strong>, Russian forces lost dozens of square kilometers<\/strong> of territory. In the south of Donbas<\/strong>, they continue to attack, but Ukrainian forces are so far holding back their advance.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Russian<\/strong> President Vladimir Putin<\/strong> claims that all of Donbas<\/strong> will be captured soon. However, even Russian military bloggers doubt that the army will be able to encircle the region\u2019s key cities.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We previously reported:<\/strong><\/p>\n