August 
Small Russian units infiltrate Ukrainian lines, commanders say.
Small Russian units infiltrate Ukrainian lines, commanders say
Ukrainian commander outlines the harsh realities of war
General Anatolii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, gave an interview to the program TV24 about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking on national television, he described an intense and challenging situation along the front lines, where Russian forces continue to hold a decisive advantage in both manpower and equipment.
Russian forces hold a major advantage
According to General Hnatov, Russia currently enjoys a five- to six-fold superiority in soldiers and weaponry.
This overwhelming advantage allows Moscow’s troops to sustain high-intensity assaults along key sectors of the front, pushing Ukrainian forces to their limits in several critical regions.
The battle intensifies in eastern Ukraine
The fiercest fighting remains in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops are pressing to capture the towns of Chasiv Yar and Toretsk.
Their ultimate objective, Hnatov explained, is to isolate the industrial hub of Kostiantynivka and encircle the entire Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad area. These moves aim to consolidate control across the Donetsk region.
Russia’s infiltration tactics cause new challenges
Hnatov warned that Russia is increasingly relying on small, mobile infiltration units that slip into Ukrainian rear positions.
These tactics, he said, are creating additional pressure on defending forces and complicating battlefield logistics.
Frontline commentary from Major Slaidiņš
NAF Major Jānis Slaidiņš, commenting on the same broadcast, confirmed that these small infiltration groups are proving effective.
“We know that there were problems near Pokrovska,” he noted. “These groups also caused serious headaches for the Ukrainian armed forces in Kupjansk.”
Weather adds another layer of complexity
Both Ukrainian and Russian soldiers acknowledge that the coming cold season will reshape combat conditions.
Slaidiņš highlighted how rain and frost disrupt drone operations, reducing their maneuverability and visibility.
Russia’s goals remain unchanged
Despite months of heavy fighting, Moscow’s objectives have not shifted. Hnatov emphasized that Russian forces remain committed to fulfilling the political leadership’s directive to liberate the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
A mission that continues to drive the offensive momentum across the eastern front.
War is not like the movies
In the interview Slaidiņš also cautioned against romanticizing warfare. “It’s not like in World War II, where trenches were full of people waiting for the attack,” he explained. “Now, there are just two, three, or four soldiers holding key points, relying on terrain for defense.
The front isn’t continuous — it’s a network of positions where small groups exploit gaps.” His comments underscore the fragmented, unpredictable, and human reality of modern warfare in Ukraine.
This article is made and published by auk1, which may have used AI in the preparation
