Donbas Under Siege: Exhausted Troops, Fleeing Civilians Grapple with Escalating War and Doubts Over Peace

The critical eastern Donetsk region, a territory Russian President Vladimir Putin claims entirely, has seen its rail links severed, signaling a steady advance by Russian forces. The final operational train station now lies on Donetsk’s western border, serving as a desperate gateway for civilians and soldiers seeking refuge from the intensifying conflict.

Millenium TV has learned that President Putin has expressed increased confidence following the leak of US proposals aimed at ending the war, which many observers believe align with his maximalist demands. In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently highlighted territorial disputes as the most formidable obstacle in US-led peace negotiations.

At the railhead, soldier Andrii, who recently spent a brief time with his girlfriend Polina, prepares to return to the front. He openly dismisses ongoing peace talks as mere “chatter” and voiced skepticism that the conflict would conclude anytime soon.

This sentiment is echoed by other weary soldiers catching a train west for a rare 20-day leave. Most appeared visibly drained, reflecting the immense mental and physical toll of combat. One such soldier, Denys, who has served for two years, described his comrades as “drained, everyone’s tired mentally and physically.” His unit has been engaged in fierce fighting around Kostyantynivka. He spoke of the terrifying presence of drones, likening them to “flies” but remained resolute, stating, “Nobody will give Putin the Donbas. No way, it’s our land.”

Russian forces currently control approximately 85% of the Donbas region, encompassing both Luhansk and Donetsk. While Russia recently claimed to have captured the strategic town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk, Ukrainian officials assert that fighting persists there. Ceding significant cities like Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkivka, which form a crucial “fortress belt” and are home to at least a quarter of a million Ukrainians, is widely deemed unacceptable by most Ukrainians.

US officials reportedly believe Ukraine is both outnumbered and outgunned in the protracted struggle. As peace talks unfold, the exodus of civilians from the Donbas continues unabated. A reception center in Lozova, just across the border, reports accommodating around 200 new arrivals daily, many having used heavy fog to evade drone detection. Yevheniy and his wife Maryna, who arrived from Kramatorsk with their two children, noted an increase in drone activity, with Maryna explaining, “It’s getting harder and harder to even go outside. Everything is dangerous. Even going to the shop, you might not come back.” The family plans to relocate to Kyiv, with Yevheniy expressing little faith in the peace process, stating, “that side [Russia] won’t agree to our terms. We understand nothing good will come of it.”

However, some residents appear more open to the idea of trading territory for an end to the hostilities. Oleksandr, whose children are now in Germany, acknowledged Russia’s maximalist demands as “probably unacceptable” but indicated a willingness to consider terms from the leaked peace plan involving de facto territorial concessions. Similarly, Inna, fleeing with her five children, believes a deal must be made, even if it means abandoning her home to secure peace for her family.

Millenium TV also reports a dramatic increase in desertions within the Ukrainian army, with nearly 300,000 cases since the invasion began. One such individual, identified only as Serhii, who volunteered to fight, described his unit near Pokrovsk as under-strength, improperly trained, and ill-equipped. He deserted in May after two friends went absent without leave, lamenting, “I wouldn’t have gone if we had proper leadership and someone experienced in charge. I came to serve, not to run.” Serhii remains uncertain about his future but echoed recent warnings that the odds are stacked against Ukraine, expressing doubt about the country’s ability to win against Russia’s significantly larger population.