**Ukraine and Russia Make Gains in Eastern Ukraine Amid Ceasefire Talks**
The situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine is intensifying, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces making localized advances across various sectors. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian units have pushed forward on two axes east and southeast of Donetsk’s Pokrovsk, while Russian troops have made gains in several areas.
**Ukrainian Advances**
On 13 May, Ukrainian forces achieved significant gains in the Pokrovsk direction, Donetsk Oblast. Geolocated footage released that day confirmed movement northeast of Zapadne, just north of Kupiansk, and in western Myrne, located east of Pokrovsk, as well as in central Lysivka, southeast of Pokrovsk.
**Russian Advances**
Meanwhile, Russian troops have made progress in the Toretsk direction, also in Donetsk Oblast. Geolocated videos published on 13 and 14 May confirmed advances north of Toretsk and west of Yablunivka, situated southwest of Toretsk. Additionally, Russian forces advanced in southern Bahatyr, west of Kurakhove, and east of Zelene Pole, west of Velyka Novosilka.
**Deep State Reports**
Separately, the Ukrainian open-source intelligence (OSINT) project Deep State confirmed additional Russian advances. On 14 May, Deep State reported enemy progress in Malynivka, northeast of Pokrovsk; in Bahatyr, north of Velyka Novosilka; and near Novosilka, west of Velyka Novosilka. Further reporting on 15 May revealed that Russian forces had occupied Nové, located in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast in the Lyman sector.
**Ceasefire Talks**
Despite these battlefield developments, reported ceasefire discussions between Kyiv and Moscow are expected to take place in Istanbul. However, the intensity of ground operations across multiple sectors shows no signs of slowing, with Russia continuing its daily explosive drone attacks against Ukrainian cities.
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