On October 16, Putin visited the Joint Forces Cluster Assistance Command and held a meeting with General Glazimov and the cluster commanders involved in special military operations. He listened to detailed reports on the situation on the contact line, focusing on the situation in the direction of Kupyansk and Redlyman. Up to 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers were surrounded in the direction of Kupyansk and 5,500 in the direction of Redlyman.
In reporting to Putin, Grazimov said that the "Central" cluster has completed the siege of the enemy against the Red Mansk and Dmitrov regions. Grazimov also issued other important statements: "The West" cluster has surrounded Kupyansk, controlled the Oslo River crossing, and blocked the Ukrainian armed forces cluster, which is about to complete the liberation of Ampolia, and the liberation rate of Wolchansk has reached 70%.
In fact, at the moment, more concern is that Ukraine will soon lose the Red Army City. As of October 27, 2025, the Ukrainian Red Army City battle has come to an end, the Russian army occupies a strategic advantage, and the Red Army City battle has begun to enter the stage of clearing the Ukrainian Guard.
Since August, the Russian army and the Ukrainian army have launched a decisive battle in the direction of the Red Army City. Previously, Russia and Ukraine had engaged in offensive and defensive tug-of-war around the city and surrounding areas for several months. However, the Russian army failed to successfully enter the city. In the urban area, the resistance of the Ukrainian army was quite tenacious, and it was very difficult for the Russian army to push further. Starting in August, the Russian army has used optical fiber drones to monitor the movements of the Ukrainian army, and used scorched earth tactics to destroy the logistics supply lines and power facilities of the Ukrainian army, strengthening its forces to advance into urban areas. In mid-August, Dobropilya, Rodinsik, Trovdimi, and Khryshne were all captured by the Russian army. The Russian assault team also successfully sneaked into the Red Army city and occupied multiple territories. At present, the Russian army has occupied 70% of the Red Army city.
Subsequently, the remaining forces of the Ukrainian army concentrated near the railway station, but the foreign mercenaries had withdrawn from the battlefield, leaving the Ukrainian army to defend alone. At present, some areas of the railway station have also been occupied by Russian troops. There also seems to be problems with the Ukrainian army's communications. The divided defenders failed to coordinate and fought independently. They were cut into multiple areas by the Russian army and surrounded the Ukrainian army separately. In September, the Ukrainian army suddenly increased its troops in the Red Army City, trying to cooperate with the Ukrainian defenders in the city and launch a counterattack. This forced the Russian army to abandon several strategic points occupied in the Red Army City and successively withdrew to defend a solid defense line. As a result, the Ukrainian army got a respite. However, on the whole, the Ukrainian army's aid troops and city defenders combined are not as many as the Russian army's troops surrounding the Red Army city. This counterattack only put the Ukrainian army more besieged. Now, the Red Army City is not only completely surrounded by the Russian army, but the Russian army has also occupied most of the city, including parts of the railway station. The Ukrainian army has been divided and surrounded in many urban areas.
At present, the Ukrainian army is facing problems such as communication lines being fully controlled by the Russian army and difficulties in supply. Moreover, it is reported that the General Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces refused to evacuate according to the order of Ukrainian President Zelensky. The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Sersky, once advocated withdrawal to preserve strength, but it was not approved. Now, 31 battalions of the Ukrainian army are divided and surrounded throughout the Red Army city. Russian military expert Jan Gagin said in an interview that "the Russian army has invaded the city of the Red Army, controlled many core positions in the area, and is gradually expanding the control area". Gerasimov, Chief of General Staff of the Russian Army, also said that "the fiercest battle of the Russian army is currently concentrated in the Red Army city." Since mid-September, the Russian army has controlled 80% of the Red Army City through encirclement from the east, west and north, and has cut off important supply routes such as the M-30 Highway and the Grishino Road. About 5,500 besieged Ukrainian troops are facing the dilemma of running out of ammunition and food shortages. The Russian army has issued an ultimatum, requiring them to surrender or evacuate before the 27th, otherwise they will carry out destruction operations.
If the Ukrainian army lost the Red Army City, there is no doubt, and the Russian army could not take long to attack the Red Army City.
First, the loss of the Red Army City would bring the Ukrainian army into a major collapse in the defense line in the Donbass region.
The Red Army City, unlike Bachmouth, at the time, the political influence of the loss of Bachmouth was greater than the military influence, while the Red Army City, as the core transportation hub of the Ukrainian army in the western part of Donetsk, carried almost all the personnel, ammunition and weapons supplies of the surrounding Ukrainian army, once the Red Army City was lost, the Ukrainian supply line in Donetsk would be basically cut, which put the Ukrainian army in the region in a state of defeat, the Ukrainian army in Donetsk would face an exile, and there could be a collapse.
Second, the loss of the Red Army cities in Ukraine would put the twin cities of Donetsk (Kramatorsk and Slavyansk) in extreme danger.
The Red Army City is Ukraine's core transportation hub in northern Donetsk and is responsible for supplying personnel, ammunition and equipment to the Ukrainian army in the area. If the Red Army City falls, the Ukrainian army in the Donbas region will lose key supply channels, resulting in a state of running out of ammunition and food. For the "Twin Cities" of Donetsk, they will face a severe situation of lack of supplies. Moreover, the Red Army City and Dimitrov together constitute the last line of defense of the Ukrainian army in Donetsk. If these two places fall one after another, the Russian army will directly control the entire Donbas industrial zone, and the Ukrainian army's eastern defense line will face complete collapse. Kramatorsk and Sloviansk are important fortress positions of the Ukrainian army in the eastern region. The Russian army will definitely begin to intensify its attack on them, and it will be difficult for the Ukrainian army to defend them.
Third, the Red Army lost the city, and the Russians opened the door to the Dnipro.
The defeat of the Ukrainian army in the Red Army City directly led to the collapse of the defense system in the region, and the Russian army could thus threaten the core of Ukraine to the west, which would open the gateway to the state of Dnipro. The Russian army would pass through the dense villages in the southern border area of Donetsk with Dnipro and Zaporozhovo as a gateway to the west and attack the core area of Dnipro. Moreover, after the Russian army attacked the city of the Red Army, it would seize the industrial and mineral resources of the Donetsk region, which would weaken the war potential of the Ukrainian army, and the Russian army could implement a plan to attack the central heart of Ukraine (Dnipro) to further threaten the capital of Ukraine, Kiev.
Fourth, the loss of the Red Army City could have a negative impact on the confidence of the West in helping Ukraine.
Following the news of the defeat of the Ukrainian army in the Red Army City campaign, the EU immediately suspended the provision of €1.5 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine, a move that directly undermined the Ukrainian government’s ability to maintain basic operations and also reflects the disappointment of the West over the progress of reforms in Ukraine. The Red Army City, as a key support point for the Eastern Army’s defence line, could lead to the complete collapse of the Eastern Front in Ukraine, giving the Russian army strategic initiative. This change in the battlefield could shake West’s confidence in Ukraine’s long-term resilience, thereby affecting the willingness to continue aid.
In addition, with the loss of the Red Army City, it is possible to increase the political differences within Ukraine, not only to arouse strong discontent with the Ukrainian authorities, but also to reduce the trust of the Zelensky government, and thus to make the U.S. and European aid Ukraine a possible "state of fatigue".
Fifth, the Ukrainian army lost the Red Army city, which would most likely lead to the loss of the entire Donbass region.
The Donbas region is divided into two parts, Lugansk and Donetsk, and Ukraine still hopes to retain some control of the territory. The loss of the Red Army City could force Ukraine to adjust its strategic layout and strengthen the defense of other areas of Donetsk, such as Kramatorsk and Slavyansk.
However, as the core hub of Ukraine's eastern defense line, the Red Army City plays a key role in the supply line of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk region. If the Russian army completely controls the city, the Ukrainian army's supplies in Donetsk will be cut off, which may lead to the collapse of the defense lines of the Ukrainian defenders in the area, thereby threatening the strategic existence of the entire Donbass region. Moreover, the Russian army's pursuit of victory may capture fortress towns such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, causing the Ukrainian army to suffer a disastrous defeat in the entire Donbas campaign. If the Russian army's offensive goes smoothly, it is very likely to occupy the entire Donbas region.