File photo for reference only

 

Russian forces are advancing along Ukraine's front lines, bolstered by intense aerial bombardments, despite calls for a ceasefire from US President Donald Trump. On Friday, Trump urged both sides to "stop where they are" during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US officials in Washington DC. However, Russia appears determined to secure territorial gains before winter, using a record 268 guided bombs in a single day against Ukrainian positions.

 

The Russian military has ramped up its drone and missile strikes, particularly targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Reports indicate that more than 180 drones are launched nightly, significantly more than at the year's start. Ukrainian forces estimate that around 20% to 30% of these drones evade interception.

 

Experts suggest the Kremlin sees no reason to halt operations due to improved battlefield tactics. Analyst Dara Massicot notes that Russia has refined its use of drones and strengthened its missile systems. This tactical evolution has seen Russian forces pressuring areas like Kupiansk in Kharkiv, with 80 Russian troops reportedly infiltrating the town.

 

In the Donetsk region, heavy fighting persists around Pokrovsk, where Russian forces claim advances. Ukrainian military officials assert they have recovered significant territory over recent months, though command challenges remain. Despite minor tactical successes, Ukraine's military insists that Russia lacks strategic initiative.

 

Russia has gained approximately 120 square miles over the last month, with significant human costs. Estimates suggest up to 250,000 Russian soldiers have died, with nearly 950,000 total casualties. These losses appear to be affecting recruitment efforts, as Russian regions reduce sign-on bonuses for new troops.

 

Ukraine is responding with long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Despite these efforts and urging Trump to supply Tomahawk missiles, Ukraine has been unable to shift Russia's position on negotiations. Russia's President Vladimir Putin remains resolute against a ceasefire, with the conflict stretching over 1,300 days since the full-scale invasion began.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Russian forces push forward in Ukraine, defying calls for a ceasefire.
• Intense aerial bombardments and drone strikes mark the renewed Russian strategy.
• Ukraine is intensifying long-range strikes, yet diplomatic progress stalls.

Related Stories:

Russia claims another Ukrainian village has fallen as it closes in on a key city
Trump Announces Budapest Meeting with Putin on Ukraine

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-10-20

 

 

I do not consider myself to be pro-Russian, but endeavour in so far as possible to pursue a line of enquiry that tries to circumvent official narratives, wherever they originate.  So a tendency to be pro-Russian as regards the Ukraine and anti-Russian when it comes to Burma.

 

The human rights situation in the Ukraine post-Maidan-Coup was fairly well covered on YouTube by western sources up until the 24th February 2022.   Then the video-documents disappeared.  The western printed press was more censorious:  the 2014 burning alive of a hundred people in the Odessa Trade Union Hall by berserk invaders mainly from Western Ukraine merited merely a footnote in only one western journal.

 

When Putin, after years of dithering and failed negotiations which had whittled away some of his popular support, finally decided to attack the Ukraine, it was a pre-emptive strike against an imminent invasion by the UAF on the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Republics, which he had consistently refused to recognise. The UAF had massed an estimated 80,000 of its best troops in the salient between the two republics.  And had begun an unprecedentedly heavy artillery barrage of civilian targets (as witnessed by OECD observers).  This was far in excess of any previous strikes during the preceding eight years and was clearly a softening-up prior to the planned assault.

 

The attack could clearly claim humanitarian grounds:  the so-called "duty-to-protect", which is generally invoked by a country only when it serves its own self-interests.

 

In this case Russia had, and has, two major self-interests;

 

1. Ensure there is no possibility of NATO nuclear-capable missiles being stationed within minutes of flight from its major population centres. Nothing new:  the Cuban missile crisis arose because of the U.S. stationing missiles in Turkey and the Soviets reciprocating by placing theirs in Cuba.  (Of course you usually only get one side of that story)
 
2.  Remove the neo-nazis from their stranglehold on the levers of power; control of key posts even when they do not hold them ("Do as we say or we shall kill your family" - similar tactics to those used by the Ukrainian oligarchs).  'Ils ne sont pas fait dans la dentelle' as the French put it.

 

NATO (U.S. and satellites) finally achieved its ongoing objective from the time of the Maidan coup (Nuland: "cost $5 bn") of provoking a Russian attack on the Ukraine.  NATO had little expectation that the Ukraine would hold out for long, least of all that it could secure victory in such an unequal struggle.

 

The purpose was to crush the Russian Federation with crippling economic sanctions, already initiated without significant effect from the time of the shooting down of the Malaysian Airlines flight 17 close to the UAF/Donbass-Militia frontline.  A closed inquest on this incident composed of NATO + Ukraine members issued a report to the effect that the aircaft was shot down by a BUK missile supplied by Russia to the Donbass Militia.  Russia and Malaysia were excluded from this inquest.

 

This official NATO narrative ignored much evidence:

 

!.  The very early testimony by a foreign (Dutch?) air-traffic controller at Kiev Airport.  This individual quickly disappeared from public view and no more was heard of his testimony.

 

2. Interviews conducted by BBC reporters of on-the-ground eyewitnesses to the airliner being attacked by a fighter aircraft.  They only mentioned seeing ONE fighter.  These interviews, conducted near the crash-site, in either Russian or Ukrainian (probably the former) were published on the BBC website with English subtitles.  They were very soon removed, but not before they had been saved and re-posted elsewhere.

 

3.  A German commercial airline pilot quickly carried out a private investigation of the crash-site before the wreckage had been removed.  His high-definition photographs of the cockpit panels show round holes, consistent with 20-mm cannon fire.  Some of these holes - viewed from the outside of the panel - are smooth round holes, while others are jagged, with jagged metal pointing outwards.  Evidently cannon fire from BOTH sides of the aircraft.

 

4.  Russian radar showed the airliner being approached by two fighter aircraft, one from each side, at the moment it was shot down.

 

5a.  The Donetz militia is said to have possessed much advanced Soviet military equipment including BUK missiles.  Despite NATO claims, none of this equipment has been shown to have been supplied by the Russian Federation, but instead by deserting Russian-speaking units of the Ukrainian Army.  This occurred in the early period after the Maidan Coup, and around the time of the massacres of Russian-speakers in Odessa, Mariupol, and elsewhere, when self-preservation through local autonomy seemed necessary.  These transfers of military equipment were reported by Polish Intelligence to NATO officers working to help re-build the UAF.

5b.  No evidence has ever been produced of Donetz-Militia owned BUK missiles in the area of the catastrophe.  On the contrary shortly before the incident a UAF BUK missile battery was moved up close to the line of contact.  Satellite images show the soldiers sitting around on the ground, seemingly drinking, and with the ground littered with what look like bottles.  After the crash, the unit moved back away from the line of contact, without ever having fired a missile.  Purpose of the exercise?

 

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Russian forces are advancing along Ukraine's front lines,

 

But I thought Russia was just a paper tiger gas station and that Ukraine is winning the war ?

6 minutes ago, johng said:

 

But I thought Russia was just a paper tiger gas station and that Ukraine is winning the war ?

It looks like you may have been studying British Intelligence reports.  MI6 should be renamed the Military Propaganda service.  If the Government believes them little wonder they are so dumb.

19 minutes ago, ericbj said:

I do not consider myself to be pro-Russian, but endeavour in so far as possible to pursue a line of enquiry that tries to circumvent official narratives, wherever they originate.  So a tendency to be pro-Russian as regards the Ukraine and anti-Russian when it comes to Burma.

 

The human rights situation in the Ukraine post-Maidan-Coup was fairly well covered on YouTube by western sources up until the 24th February 2022.   Then the video-documents disappeared.  The western printed press was more censorious:  the 2014 burning alive of a hundred people in the Odessa Trade Union Hall by berserk invaders mainly from Western Ukraine merited merely a footnote in only one western journal.

 

When Putin, after years of dithering and failed negotiations which had whittled away some of his popular support, finally decided to attack the Ukraine, it was a pre-emptive strike against an imminent invasion by the UAF on the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Republics, which he had consistently refused to recognise. The UAF had massed an estimated 80,000 of its best troops in the salient between the two republics.  And had begun an unprecedentedly heavy artillery barrage of civilian targets (as witnessed by OECD observers).  This was far in excess of any previous strikes during the preceding eight years and was clearly a softening-up prior to the planned assault.

 

The attack could clearly claim humanitarian grounds:  the so-called "duty-to-protect", which is generally invoked by a country only when it serves its own self-interests.

 

In this case Russia had, and has, two major self-interests;

 

1. Ensure there is no possibility of NATO nuclear-capable missiles being stationed within minutes of flight from its major population centres. Nothing new:  the Cuban missile crisis arose because of the U.S. stationing missiles in Turkey and the Soviets reciprocating by placing theirs in Cuba.  (Of course you usually only get one side of that story)
 
2.  Remove the neo-nazis from their stranglehold on the levers of power; control of key posts even when they do not hold them ("Do as we say or we shall kill your family" - similar tactics to those used by the Ukrainian oligarchs).  'Ils ne sont pas fait dans la dentelle' as the French put it.

 

NATO (U.S. and satellites) finally achieved its ongoing objective from the time of the Maidan coup (Nuland: "cost $5 bn") of provoking a Russian attack on the Ukraine.  NATO had little expectation that the Ukraine would hold out for long, least of all that it could secure victory in such an unequal struggle.

 

The purpose was to crush the Russian Federation with crippling economic sanctions, already initiated without significant effect from the time of the shooting down of the Malaysian Airlines flight 17 close to the UAF/Donbass-Militia frontline.  A closed inquest on this incident composed of NATO + Ukraine members issued a report to the effect that the aircaft was shot down by a BUK missile supplied by Russia to the Donbass Militia.  Russia and Malaysia were excluded from this inquest.

 

This official NATO narrative ignored much evidence:

 

!.  The very early testimony by a foreign (Dutch?) air-traffic controller at Kiev Airport.  This individual quickly disappeared from public view and no more was heard of his testimony.

 

2. Interviews conducted by BBC reporters of on-the-ground eyewitnesses to the airliner being attacked by a fighter aircraft.  They only mentioned seeing ONE fighter.  These interviews, conducted near the crash-site, in either Russian or Ukrainian (probably the former) were published on the BBC website with English subtitles.  They were very soon removed, but not before they had been saved and re-posted elsewhere.

 

3.  A German commercial airline pilot quickly carried out a private investigation of the crash-site before the wreckage had been removed.  His high-definition photographs of the cockpit panels show round holes, consistent with 20-mm cannon fire.  Some of these holes - viewed from the outside of the panel - are smooth round holes, while others are jagged, with jagged metal pointing outwards.  Evidently cannon fire from BOTH sides of the aircraft.

 

4.  Russian radar showed the airliner being approached by two fighter aircraft, one from each side, at the moment it was shot down.

 

5a.  The Donetz militia is said to have possessed much advanced Soviet military equipment including BUK missiles.  Despite NATO claims, none of this equipment has been shown to have been supplied by the Russian Federation, but instead by deserting Russian-speaking units of the Ukrainian Army.  This occurred in the early period after the Maidan Coup, and around the time of the massacres of Russian-speakers in Odessa, Mariupol, and elsewhere, when self-preservation through local autonomy seemed necessary.  These transfers of military equipment were reported by Polish Intelligence to NATO officers working to help re-build the UAF.

5b.  No evidence has ever been produced of Donetz-Militia owned BUK missiles in the area of the catastrophe.  On the contrary shortly before the incident a UAF BUK missile battery was moved up close to the line of contact.  Satellite images show the soldiers sitting around on the ground, seemingly drinking, and with the ground littered with what look like bottles.  After the crash, the unit moved back away from the line of contact, without ever having fired a missile.  Purpose of the exercise?

 

A very well written summary of Russian propaganda! 

I've been posting on and off on this for sometime now always getting the obligatory thumbs down so I'll say it again. Russia continues to gain ground on the battlefield. As for "Estimates suggest up to 250,000 Russian soldiers have died, with nearly 950,000 total casualties." I would pay little attention to these numbers. It's not sourced and probably Ukrainian numbers so an overestimate.

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Russia has gained approximately 120 square miles over the last month,

Considering the "hot"front-line is over 1,200 kilometers, gaining 120 square miles is not a lot. Losing significant Russian soldiers will demoralize front-line soldiers as well as recruitments. As Zelensky correctly state that Ukraine can win if only Trump has the courage to apply more pressure on Putin. 

1 minute ago, Eric Loh said:

Considering the "hot"front-line is over 1,200 kilometers, gaining 120 square miles is not a lot. Losing significant Russian soldiers will demoralize front-line soldiers as well as recruitments. As Zelensky correctly state that Ukraine can win if only Trump has the courage to apply more pressure on Putin. 

It's quite obvious you have no idea. 120 square miles is quite a bit in one month. It's obviously not ground gained along the entire front. As for demoralizing front-line soldiers it's Ukraine that's having the biggest problem with desertions and as I said the above figures for KIA and wounded should be taken with a large grain of salt..

Russian propaganda, I suppose.
But might prove informative for some:

https://youtu.be/EubchoxPQ6s 

34 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

It's quite obvious you have no idea. 120 square miles is quite a bit in one month. It's obviously not ground gained along the entire front. As for demoralizing front-line soldiers it's Ukraine that's having the biggest problem with desertions and as I said the above figures for KIA and wounded should be taken with a large grain of salt..

Nothing is obvious. Different sources provide conflicting accounts. Your source from Russia to claim certain advancement. Ukraine source state these attacks were repelled. I can agree on the number of desertion. Ukraine has a smaller manpower pool than Russia which means many of their soldiers serve for extremely long periods without relief which is key factor driving exhaustion and desertion but it has not affected soldier morale fighting and stopping Russia military advancement, 

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

I would pay little attention to these numbers

Agreed as the numbers are TOO LOW.

"As Russia’s Military Losses Pass 1 Million, Putin Says All Were “For a Cause”, Aug 01, 2025

https://united24media.com/latest-news/

"we do not have a single loss that was in vain,” - Putin

18 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Nothing is obvious. Different sources provide conflicting accounts. Your source from Russia to claim certain advancement. Ukraine source state these attacks were repelled. I can agree on the number of desertion. Ukraine has a smaller manpower pool than Russia which means many of their soldiers serve for extremely long periods without relief which is key factor driving exhaustion and desertion but it has not affected soldier morale fighting and stopping Russia military advancement, 

What did I say. The DeepStateMap is Ukrainian. There are several non-biased analysts and mappers that show what this article states with greater accuracy in terms of front line movements. As for  "Ukraine has a smaller manpower pool than Russia which means many of their soldiers serve for extremely long periods without relief which is key factor driving exhaustion and desertion but it has not affected soldier morale fighting and stopping Russia military advancement," you're kidding surely. You're quite correct in saying rotation for front line troops is not good and you're also correct about exhaustion and desertion yet you say morale is not affected. Soldiers deserting I would think shows morale is definitely affected. You also say Ukrainian troops are stopping Russian advancements when an article from CNN states the opposite. It's moving slowly that's true but it is moving and it's moving in Russia's favour.

9 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Agreed as the numbers are TOO LOW.

"As Russia’s Military Losses Pass 1 Million, Putin Says All Were “For a Cause”, Aug 01, 2025

https://united24media.com/latest-news/

"we do not have a single loss that was in vain,” - Putin

If the figures were Russian it would be too low. Like the Russian figures for Ukrainian losses will be too high. It's a war. Both sides will give numbers that favour them for propaganda purposes.

11 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

What did I say. The DeepStateMap is Ukrainian. There are several non-biased analysts and mappers that show what this article states with greater accuracy in terms of front line movements. As for  "Ukraine has a smaller manpower pool than Russia which means many of their soldiers serve for extremely long periods without relief which is key factor driving exhaustion and desertion but it has not affected soldier morale fighting and stopping Russia military advancement," you're kidding surely. You're quite correct in saying rotation for front line troops is not good and you're also correct about exhaustion and desertion yet you say morale is not affected. Soldiers deserting I would think shows morale is definitely affected. You also say Ukrainian troops are stopping Russian advancements when an article from CNN states the opposite. It's moving slowly that's true but it is moving and it's moving in Russia's favour.

Russia invaded UKraine in 2022 and the front lines in Ukraine have reached an impasse. As Russia senator Dmitry Rogozin said that "the front lines is moving with enormous difficulty and at a colossal price which our military is paying in order for it to move". This from a man who fought in Ukraine. Who is kidding when I said that the fighting morale of the Ukrainian soldiers are still intact to stop Russia advance. 

2 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Russia invaded UKraine in 2022 and the front lines in Ukraine have reached an impasse. As Russia senator Dmitry Rogozin said that "the front lines is moving with enormous difficulty and at a colossal price which our military is paying in order for it to move". This from a man who fought in Ukraine. Who is kidding when I said that the fighting morale of the Ukrainian soldiers are still intact to stop Russia advance. 

You are denying reality and reality is Russian troops continue to take ground.

deleted

12 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

You are denying reality and reality is Russian troops continue to take ground.

You still sticking to Putin's boast that he will take Kyiv in 3 days? 

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Considering the "hot"front-line is over 1,200 kilometers, gaining 120 square miles is not a lot.

 

"Tis nought but a flesh wound!"

11 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

You still sticking to Putin's boast that he will take Kyiv in 3 days? 

 

Gen. Milley says Kyiv could fall within 72 hours if Russia decides to invade Ukraine: sources

 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told lawmakers that Kyiv could fall within 72 hours if a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine takes place, multiple congressional sources tell Fox News.

 

Milley told lawmakers during closed-door briefings on Feb. 2 and 3 that a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine could result in the fall of Kyiv within 72-hours, and could come at a cost of 15,000 Ukrainian troop deaths and 4,000 Russian troop deaths.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/gen-milley-says-kyiv-could-fall-within-72-hours-if-russia-decides-to-invade-ukraine-sources

 

4 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Gen. Milley says Kyiv could fall within 72 hours if Russia decides to invade Ukraine: sources

"sources" being the Ukrainian propagandist legacy media probably in conjunction with MI6

Amazing how they spin a narrative and rewrite history of who said what.

Unless Gen. Milley is a Russian asset and Putin propagandist ?

 

59 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

As Russia’s Military Losses Pass 1 Million,

Another example.. recent leaked info form the Ukrainian MOD 

says that it is Ukraine who have lost  more than a million  not Russia. 

18 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

https://www.foxnews.com/us/gen-milley-says-kyiv-could-fall-within-72-hours-if-russia-decides-to-invade-ukraine-sources

You listen to Fox News, how American. If you really want to know what is going on, from a Russian perspective, do some research on Substack. I have no idea who is right but would have a big bet that Fox is wrong on all counts.

1 minute ago, GreasyFingers said:

You listen to Fox News, how American. If you really want to know what is going on, from a Russian perspective, do some research on Substack. I have no idea who is right but would have a big bet that Fox is wrong on all counts.

 

I read ALL the news.  Can't know what's happening in the world by restricting yourself to one echochamberpot.  Years of working in windowless buildings leads me not to necessarily believe what I'm being told by my betters.

 

My response was directed at the post regurgitating the "3-day SMO" claim.

 

Multiple reliable websites pinpoint Milley as the source of the 3-day time frame which was based on US intelligence estimates and NOT on Kremlin/Putin statements.  Statements from the Russian side would be more of the "it'll take as long as it takes" variety.

 

I chose to link Fox News as I suspect that is the most reliable source in the eyes of the regurgitator.

31 minutes ago, johng said:

"sources" being the Ukrainian propagandist legacy media probably in conjunction with MI6

 

Not exactly. 

 

"Sources" in this context are NOT suggesting that the statements about the time frame are true, but are telling us what Gen. Milley said during the secret session before congress.

 

It was only later that the 3-day claim was repurposed and used as dis/misinformation.

19 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Multiple reliable websites pinpoint Milley as the source of the 3-day time frame which was based on US intelligence estimates and NOT on Kremlin/Putin statements.  Statements from the Russian side would be more of the "it'll take as long as it takes" variety.

Yes that is what I was getting at..It was not Putin who said it will take 3 days..but somehow it has become enshrined in history that Putin said Ukraine would fall in 3 days  and so  Russia is a paper tiger gas station (but also dangerous enough to threaten the entire EU/NATO/US military machine)

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Russian forces are advancing along Ukraine's front lines, bolstered by intense aerial bombardments, despite calls for a ceasefire from US President Donald Trump. On Friday, Trump urged both sides to "stop where they are" during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US officials in Washington DC. However, Russia appears determined to secure territorial gains before winter, using a record 268 guided bombs in a single day against Ukrainian positions.

 

But but but but - many knowledgeable members and savant and Western experts have assured us that "the ruble is rubble," "the Russian military is about to collapse," and "most Russia conscripts are either dead or have deserted" after which they inform us that Russia is on the verge of invading Europe.   Of course, some of us who have been around the block globally so to speak, understand that the knowledgeable members and savants and Western experts are projecting Ukraine's current situation onto Russia via the media and social.  The clones in the West must keep believing that the US, NATO, and Ukraine are winning!    Problem being?  Russia is grinding away and is consistently attriting Ukrainian and NATO troops. The US, NATO, and Ukraine are not winning.  So Russian isn't going to stop.  There is no reason for them to stop short of a Ukrainian surrender or a major capitulation.  Stopping means that Ukraine can rearm, retrench, regroup, and wade back into in offensive refreshed.  That ain't gonna happen.  

5 minutes ago, connda said:

Stopping means that Ukraine can rearm, retrench, regroup, and wade back into in offensive refreshed.  That ain't gonna happen.

 

What?  So Minsk-3 is a definitive "nyet" then?

7 minutes ago, johng said:

Yes that is what I was getting at..It was not Putin who said it will take 3 days..but somehow it has become enshrined in history that Putin said Ukraine would fall in 3 days  and so  Russia is a paper tiger gas station (but also dangerous enough to threaten the entire EU/NATO/US military machine)

I love the US, and especially Trump and the military hacks he surrounds himself with.  "If that was my war it would have been done in 3 days."  So says the military which was bogged down in Afghanistan for 20 years and close to 9 years in Iraq and 10+ years in Vietnam.  It makes guys like Milley and Kellogg look like idiots.  I can't wait for Trump to open fronts in Venezuela, Colombia, and Iran, all the while rattling a sabre at China.  Then you can watch a "3 day war ala Trump."  

Just now, NoDisplayName said:

 

What?  So Minsk-3 is a definitive "nyet" then?

Istanbul +++++++ 

Minsk was just a ruse to allow time for Ukraine to rearm as admitted by  Angela Merkel. 

2 minutes ago, connda said:

I can't wait for Trump to open fronts in Venezuela, Colombia, and Iran, all the while rattling a sabre at China.

They do seem hell bent on more war.

15 hours ago, webfact said:

Russia has gained approximately 120 square miles over the last month, with significant human costs. Estimates suggest up to 250,000 Russian soldiers have died, with nearly 950,000 total casualties. These losses appear to be affecting recruitment efforts, as Russian regions reduce sign-on bonuses for new troops.

Well, then Russia is losing, of course as most of the Russian troops have been killed and there are barely any left to fight.  It's funny the differences between the Western narrative and the Eastern narratives of the war.  Once the fighting stops and one side or the other capitulates, the facts will come to the surface.  In the meanwhile it really doesn't matter.  It's all propaganda.