Donetsk officials said the entire settlement in Donetsk was shelled when Russian forces sought to penetrate the Ukrainian route.

No area in Donetsk was not shelling, Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the military government of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine.

Kyrylenko added that the Russian troops were gradually moving towards Bakhmut, which was constantly suffering from air strikes and shelling from July 25.

Bakhmut is the key goal of the Russian force, considered as the gateway leading to the remaining territory that Ukraine is controlling in Donetsk province.

Black smoke rises from Soledar, Donetsk province, eastern Ukraine on July 25.

In the report published on July 25, the American War Research Institute said that the Russian forces had achieved small steps in the south of Bakhmut, but could not take advantage of this advanced momentum to completely control.

The Ukrainian army today said that the Russian forces were conducting the preparation to attack Siversk and Soledar, the two eastern cities of Donetsk currently controlled by Ukraine.

Russian units are storing ammunition and fuel, the Ukrainian military general staff said.

When fighting in the sixth month, Russia captured all Lugansk and most of Donetsk, the two provinces formed the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine.

The location of Bakhmut city, where the Russian forces are seeking to approach.

In southern Ukraine, Russia tried to consolidate the control of Kherson province and most of Zaporizhzhia by measures such as Russian television channel coverage, regulating Ruble as an official currency and simplifying Russian naturalization procedures for residents.

Russian -European gas tensions started in the end of February, regarding the EU sanctions and increasing heat because Moscow responded.

After 5 months of fierce fighting, Russia and Ukraine's wars became a long -term battle, when the two sides took advantage of the firepower to erode each other.