Russian Forces Intensify Multi-Front Assaults in Ukraine Amid Expanded Conflict Fears

Retired U.S. Army general Wesley Clark warned that Russia intends to continue its war in Ukraine until it perceives itself as losing, potentially opening new fronts in Europe with support from China, North Korea, and Iran. On the southern front, Ukrainian forces have repelled intensified Russian assaults, particularly near Orikhiv, Stepnohirsk, and the Antonivsky Bridges, inflicting significant losses on Russian troops and equipment. Despite these setbacks, Russian forces have made territorial gains in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, including near Hrodivka, Volodymyrivka, and Stepnohirsk. Meanwhile, Russia claims to have seized additional villages in eastern Ukraine, though these reports remain unverified. Geopolitically, China and India are scaling back direct purchases of Russian oil amid new U.S. sanctions, while the European Union has imposed further sanctions targeting Russian energy exports. In response, Kremlin officials have condemned the U.S. sanctions as hostile, reflecting heightened tensions that continue to influence both the conflict on the ground and international relations.