Russian troops have pierced Ukrainian defensive lines in the eastern Donetsk region, pushing roughly 10 kilometers north of Pokrovsk toward the mining town of Dobropillia, according to the Ukrainian army and independent monitoring groups such as Deep State and the Institute for the Study of War. The advance, achieved within a few days, represents one of Moscow’s fastest territorial gains in months. The incursion threatens to cut the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk highway, a key supply route for Kyiv’s forces, and could place the garrison town of Dobropillia at risk of encirclement. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that small Russian infantry detachments had moved up to 10 kilometers in several sectors and said Ukrainian reinforcements were being redeployed to stabilise the front. Ukraine’s General Staff reported that approximately 110,000 Russian troops are now massed near Pokrovske and are attempting to widen the breach. Analysts caution it is too early to declare an operational breakthrough, but warn the next 24–48 hours will be critical in determining whether Kyiv can seal the gap or whether Moscow consolidates deeper gains reminiscent of last year’s capture of Avdiivka. The battlefield development comes just days before a 15 August summit in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Military observers say even limited Russian progress could strengthen the Kremlin’s bargaining position in any forthcoming negotiations over a potential cease-fire.