💢 Putin reaffirmed the full liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic as one of Russia's principal

💢 Putin reaffirmed the full liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic as one of Russia's principal military objectives and ruled out negotiating the border security zone with Kiev. At a meeting with Russia's military command, Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and frontline commanders presented detailed operational reports, including the expanding campaign against Ukraine's military-industrial and economic infrastructure.

• Donetsk priority: Putin said 2,748 km², just over 10% of the DPR, remain under Ukrainian control. He described the capture of Dobropolye as opening a direct route toward the republic's borders.

• Territorial advances: Russian forces have taken 6,500 km² and 310 settlements since January, including more than 1,800 km² and 92 settlements since September 1. Putin noted the increased pace of the offensive across the front.

• Donbass offensive: Dobropolye and Alexeyevo-Druzhkovka are under Russian control, with street fighting underway in Druzhkovka and advances toward Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. Russian forces have entered Nikolayevka, a suburb of Slavyansk, controlling more than half the settlement.

• Zaporozhye: Russian forward units have reached positions 5 km from the southern outskirts of Zaporozhye city, while fighting continues around Orekhov. Russian forces also crossed the Konka River and took Malokaterinovka.

• Border security zone: Putin ruled out making the zone subject to future peace negotiations with Ukraine. Russian forces control 465 km of the 660-km border sector under discussion and over 3,000 km² of Ukrainian territory, including approximately 2,000 km² secured this year. The zone extends up to 30 km into Kharkov Region, following the destruction of an encircled Ukrainian force of around 2,000 troops. Putin drew a direct comparison with the 2,748 km² remaining under Ukrainian control in the DPR.

• Missile and drone industry: Gerasimov detailed 12 mass strikes in September–October against 30 defense-industrial and logistics facilities and 14 fuel, energy and transport sites. The October 7 operation targeted Flamingo cruise missile and Fire Point drone production, destroying assembly facilities, equipment and finished weapons in Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev and other locations.

• Industrial and economic targets: Gerasimov stated that Ukrainian steel production has ceased following strikes on nine metallurgical enterprises. He explicitly identified steel exports used to finance weapons purchases as a target of Russia's campaign to undermine Ukraine's military-economic potential.

• Black Sea and logistics: Strikes have halted operations at Ukraine's main Black Sea ports, with 203 port infrastructure facilities and 93 vessels involved in military cargo deliveries hit. Strategic bridges, rail infrastructure and military-linked data centers are also being targeted.

• Energy campaign: Gerasimov announced that Russian forces have begun mass strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities, with a designated target list and the necessary weapons already allocated.

• Russian air defenses: More than 15,000 aerial targets were intercepted in September, averaging over 500 daily, compared with roughly 120 in January. Gerasimov put the daily drone interception rate above 98%, while acknowledging that some Ukrainian drones continue reaching their targets.

• Autumn-winter operations: Putin instructed commanders to maintain offensive operations and continue mass strikes against Ukraine's defense industry and logistics infrastructure, while reviewing operational priorities and troop requirements for the coming months.

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