Russian Assault Repelled as Repeated Attacks in Donetsk Fail: ISW

Ukrainian soldiers were able to repel an attack by Russian forces in the Donetsk region earlier this week.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) released a new report on Tuesday, with the latest information about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Ukrainians are advancing in the south near Kherson, but the Russians appear to be attacking in the east.

The report said that Russia was able to repel Ukrainian forces specifically in the east of Ukraine.

However, the ISW added that Ukraine also forced back Russian forces that attempted ground attacks.

"Russian forces continued to conduct unsuccessful ground attacks in Donetsk Oblast on October 25," the report read.

It also listed the multiple areas in which Ukrainian troops withstood and repelled Russian attempts at advancing.

The ISW mentioned a series of places in Donetsk where Ukraine had forced back Russian attacks, including Bakhmut, Soledar and others.

The Ukrainian general staff also said that its forces repelled Russian attacks near Marinka and Nevelske.

According to the report, Russia had some success in stopping Ukrainian attempts at progression as well.

"Various Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian troops are grouping forces west of Svatove for future counteroffensive operations and that Russian forces are strengthening their defensive positions around Svatove.

"Russian sources additionally claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted an unsuccessful frontal assault on Kreminna on October 25. Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian troops repelled the attack," the report said.

"The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian attack on Bilohorivka, about 10km [6.2 miles] south of Kreminna, suggesting that Russian troops are continuing efforts to retake lost positions along the Donetsk-Luhansk Oblast border."

Marina Miron, a research fellow in the Defense Studies Department's Center for Military Ethics at King's College London, told Newsweek her thoughts on these attacks. She revealed where Ukraine could strike next to get better control of the eastern region of the country.

"Ukrainian forces are trying (possibly successfully) to get to Chervonopopivka. Chervonopopivka, if captured by the Ukrainian forces, could help them get to Kreminna from the north (Kreminna is located to the southeast of Chervonopopivka)," she said.

"The main task for the Russian forces would be to defend Chervonopopivka to prevent the Ukrainian forces from advancing towards Kreminna and surrounding it from three directions."

Miron added: "The Russian MoD (Ministry of Defense) admitted the advance of the Ukrainian forces towards Chervonopopivka with two mechanized infantry companies.

"The best bet for the Russian forces now is to defend Chervonopopivka to prevent the Ukrainian forces from advancing towards Chervonopopivka, Zhytlivka and then Kreminna."

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.