The Russian Defence Ministry said on 11 August that its forces have seized the settlement of Lunacharske in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, adding weight to a week-long offensive aimed at widening Moscow’s hold on the eastern front. Geolocated battlefield maps compiled by Ukrainian open-source analysts indicate that Russian units have also pushed roughly 10 kilometres north of Pokrovsk, capturing Kucherov Yar and Zolotoy Kolodez and moving into the outskirts of Vesele. The advance places Russian troops within three kilometres of the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk highway, a key Ukrainian supply line. The ground gains coincide with an escalation in Russia’s use of unmanned systems. According to data collated by AFP from Ukrainian official figures, Russia launched more than 6,000 attack drones in July, the highest monthly tally since the February 2022 invasion. Overnight strikes on 11 August damaged an infrastructure facility, two houses and several agricultural warehouses in Ukraine’s Sumy region, underscoring the growing role of high-volume drone barrages in the conflict.