Russian forces have captured two front-line villages, Vovche and Prohres, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region following relentless assaults.

This advance is part of a Kremlin summer push to breach Ukrainian defenses. Ukrainian military officials confirmed the losses, attributing them to poor troop training and inadequate weaponry.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as “extremely challenging.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian attacks in Russia’s Kursk region targeted substations, causing power outages, the Associated Press has reported.

The Ukrainian Security Service claimed responsibility, aiming to disrupt Russian logistics.

Russia reported intercepting 39 Ukrainian drones overnight, with some drone debris damaging infrastructure. The conflict continues to strain Ukraine, which faces a larger, better-equipped Russian military.

Written by B.C. Begley