ISW: Ukraine Will Lose Its "belt Of Fortresses" If It Withdraws From Donetsk Region

• 9.08.2025, 9:52

This "belt" was holding back the RF.

Ukraine will lose the "belt of fortresses" that has been holding back Russian occupiers for 11 years if it agrees to withdraw from Donetsk Region. This is according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War.

According to analysts, such a decision would put the Russian army in an extremely favorable position to resume attacks on much more favorable terms, avoiding a prolonged struggle for territory.

Ukraine's "fortress belt" has been the main obstacle to the Kremlin's territorial ambitions in Ukraine for the past 11 years. It consists of four major cities and several towns and villages stretching from north to south along the H-20 highway Konstantinovka-Slaviansk, with a total pre-war population of over 380,537," ISW explained.

The line is 50 kilometers long, and Slavyansk and Kramatorsk form the northern half of the defensive belt and serve as important logistical centers for Ukrainian defenders defending the Donetsk region.

"Druzhkivka, Alekseevo-Druzhkivka and Konstantinivka form the southern half of the defensive belt. Ukrainian forces first started building defensive positions in and around these towns after they recaptured them from pro-Russian forces that attacked and captured Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and Konstantinovka in April 2014," the experts recalled.

"Therefore, Ukrainian forces have held control over these towns since July 2014. Over the past 11 years, Ukraine has invested time, money and effort to strengthen this defensive belt and build significant defensive infrastructure in and around these cities.

The ISW also believes that the Russian army is likely to violate any future ceasefire or peace agreement and resume military aggression against Ukraine in the future if the agreement does not contain robust monitoring mechanisms and security guarantees for our state.