In the past two weeks, Russian troops have carried out three offensives in key areas of the Donetsk region, which marks a change in the way Moscow uses its armored equipment in Ukraine. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), after the end of 2024, Russian forces have almost completely stopped large-scale mechanized attacks, and in 2025 they carried out only a few similar operations - the last of them in April, BTA reports.
In the first nine months of 2025, the Russian army relied mainly on small infantry units instead of mechanized offensives. However, in recent weeks, there has been an increase in activity in the priority tactical directions of Konstantinovka-Druzhkovka and Dobropole in Donetsk region.
Ukrainian sources reported that in one of the attacks, Russian forces used 35 tanks and armored vehicles, as well as an unspecified number of motorcycles. In response, Ukrainian defenders damaged or destroyed three tanks, 16 armored vehicles, and 41 motorcycles.
Military sources in Ukraine noted that in the fall of 2025, Russian forces took advantage of rainy weather, which made it difficult to use Ukrainian drones.
The Kremlin's Continued Ideological and Political Aggression
In parallel with the military actions, the Kremlin continues to justify its interventions in former Soviet republics under the pretext of “protecting Russian-speaking“. On October 14, the speaker of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, stated that the authorities in Latvia were “persecuting“ Russian-speaking citizens and that Russia should to protect its "compatriots" in the Baltic states.
Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and MP Leonid Slutsky also stressed that Russians in Latvia are part of the so-called "Russian World" - an ideological concept that President Vladimir Putin defines as encompassing all territories and peoples historically, culturally or spiritually connected to Russia.
Moscow has used this framework to justify its military interventions in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine - and will likely use it in a possible future confrontation with NATO.
Kremlin remains adamant on the war in Ukraine
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 14 that Russia was formally ready for a peaceful settlement of the conflict, but was continuing hostilities "due to the lack of an alternative". He stressed that Moscow would defend its interests “one way or another“ and will achieve its military goals - including the demilitarization of Ukraine, the replacement of its government with a pro-Russian administration, and guarantees that the country will not join NATO or other alliances.
Peskov's statements follow a well-established pattern in Kremlin rhetoric: Russia will achieve its goals by both military and diplomatic means, depending on the circumstances.