Russia occupies Zhelanne in Donetsk Oblast, advances in Kharkiv Oblast – DeepState

On 20 October, the Russian forces occupied the village of Zhelanne Druve in the Pokrovsk district of the Donetsk Oblast, according to analysts from the DeepState project. Since October 2023, Pokrovsk has been a focal point of intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with Russia launching major offensives to capture and expand its control in western Donetsk Oblast. According to the analysts, Russian troops advanced in the Hirnyk, Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces also advanced in Vyshneve in the Izium district of the Kharkiv Oblast. The Kharkiv direction remains a critical front in the ongoing war due to its strategic location bordering Russia and its role as a potential launching point for further offensives. DeepState also reported that Russia advanced near Olhivka in the Kursk Oblast and Lyubymivka in the Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian forces started their offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on 6 August, reportedly aiming to destabilize Russian defenses by forcing them to divert resources away from critical fronts in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces allegedly seized some 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles). According to the previous ISW report, Russian troops intensified counterattacks in the Kursk Oblast on 10-11 October to push Ukrainian forces out before deteriorating weather conditions. Read also:

• Ukrainian military says Russian forces amass troops for new assaults on Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast
• Russia injures 18, kills 1 in its overnight attack across Ukraine
• ISW: Ukrainian forces make gains north of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast