Donbas region

The Donbas region in eastern Ukraine is at the center of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Partially occupied by Russia, it has become a key strategic and symbolic battleground. Recent news indicates Russia is transforming the occupied Donbas into a "huge military base," consolidating control and potentially using it to exert pressure on Europe. Fighting remains intense, with reports of large Russian mechanized assaults, particularly around strategic cities like Pokrovsk. Russia claims control of Pokrovsk, while Ukraine insists on holding the northern part. The region's relevance is heightened by Putin's stated intention to take the Donbas "by force," contradicting reports of potential negotiation. The death of a Texan fighting for Russia in the Donbas, allegedly tortured and killed by Russian soldiers, highlights the brutal realities of the conflict in the region.