Russian and Ukrainian armies launch counterattack

This is why the commander of the 33rd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel Dmitry Palisa, called on his soldiers not to relax due to talk of a possible ceasefire.

"They are starting to relax, they are starting to change their minds, they are putting on rose-colored glasses, they are thinking that tomorrow will be easier. No," he said at a command post on the eastern front. "We are shooting until we get the order to stop."

As Western leaders debate a potential ceasefire, bloody fighting continues on the front lines. The standoff between Ukraine and Russia continues unabated, with both sides trying to improve their positions in preparation for further negotiations. The Trump administration claims progress in diplomatic efforts, but most military and civilians in Ukraine remain skeptical.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warns that Russia is preparing for new offensive operations. "They want to put maximum pressure on Ukraine and then issue ultimatums from a position of strength," he said last week. Despite the numerical and technical superiority of the Russians, Ukrainian troops have managed to stop their advance and are even carrying out local counterattacks. Military experts confirm that the pace of the Russian offensive has slowed significantly, although attacks on important positions continue.

On the front lines, Ukraine's military attributes its resilience to several factors: improved defensive strategies, increased use of drones, rapid adaptation to new threats, and improved morale following the appointment of General Mykhailo Drapatiy as ground forces commander.

"This war is constantly changing the rules," notes Colonel Palisa, "which means we must constantly adapt. Every night, before we go to bed, we must already plan an alternative strategy for tomorrow."

The fighting is particularly fierce in eastern Donbas, where Russia has yet to fully capture the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Colonel Palisa controls a defensive line near Pokrovsk, where Russian troops were able to advance last year.

However, thanks to smart tactics and the active use of drones, Ukrainian forces were able to hold off the enemy.