Russian forces advance on Kramatorsk as drone war intensifies
Russian forces are advancing on the city of Kramatorsk, while Ukraine's drone war intensifies, leading to rising civilian casualties.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Russian forces are slowly advancing on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, one of the last major cities still held by Ukraine in the Donbas region. The advance comes as drone warfare intensifies on both sides, with civilian casualties reaching their highest level since the start of the full-scale invasion. According to the head of the Ukrainian armed forces, Russia is losing 400 soldiers for every square kilometre of territory it captures in the Donetsk region. Despite these losses, Russian troops have been spotted as close as five kilometres from Kramatorsk's airport, and infiltration units are operating in the area. The city itself is bracing for a major battle. Razor wire, trenches and fortifications are being extended. The population has shrunk from around 150,000 before the war to about 40,000 and is still falling. Evacuations are ongoing from nearby villages under drone attack. Russian glide bombs recently killed five people in Kramatorsk, including an 18-year-old woman and her 14-year-old brother. The European Commission president visited Kyiv on Ukraine's statehood day, pledging more military and financial support. But the human cost continues to mount. Ukraine's drone operations, including ground drones, are a key part of its defence, but the front line is now everywhere, with drones dominating both the air and the land. The fight for Kramatorsk may not come in weeks or months, but when it does, it is expected to be a decisive battle for the northern Donbas.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 4 |
|---|---|
| Russia was losing 400 soldiers for every square kilometre captured in Ukraine's Donetsk region. | |
| Russian forces entered Kostiantnevka, where a fierce fight was underway. | |
| Small groups of Russian soldiers were spotted five kilometres from Kramatorsk airport. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4's report is an immersive, on-the-ground account from Kramatorsk, focusing on the human cost of the war and the city's preparation for a major battle. The tone is urgent and descriptive, highlighting the psychological toll on civilians and the pervasive threat of drones. The report includes vivid details of daily life under constant drone surveillance and the emotional stories of displaced residents.
- “We spent four fraught days in the fortress-built city of Kramatorsk, a place bracing for battle ala Mad Max.”
- “There is a battle coming to that city. It may not be in the coming weeks. It may not be in the coming months. But when it arrives, it will be the mother of all battles in the north of the Donbas.”
- “These women of faith speak about escaping from hell. The worry now that hell is coming to Kramatorsk.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.