Donetsk conflict
The Devastating Impact of War: How Russia's Invasion Has Shattered Ukraine's Young Volunteer Soldiers
Dec 02, 2025 12:05 am CST
This article examines the harrowing experiences of young Ukrainian volunteers aged 18-24 who joined the military to fight against Russian forces. Following eleven recruits from their spring training to battlefield deployment, it reveals the harsh realities they faced: four wounded, three missing in action, two AWOL, one ill, and one dead by suicide. Through personal accounts, particularly that of 20-year-old Pavlo Broshkov, the piece illuminates the physical and psychological toll of combat on Ukraine's youth while highlighting the country's desperate need for fresh military personnel in its ongoing defensive war.
Putin Claims Russia Has Captured 5,000 Square Kilometers of Ukrainian Territory in 2025
Oct 08, 2025 07:51 am CST
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian forces have captured approximately 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles) of Ukrainian territory in 2025, claiming full strategic initiative on the battlefield. Speaking on his 73rd birthday, Putin stated that Ukrainian forces are retreating across all front sectors despite fierce resistance, with Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov reporting advances in multiple directions, including the Donetsk region where the heaviest fighting is concentrated.