Ukrainian Separatists Fight Back to Maintain Supply Lines

Pro-Russian separatists fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces of eastern Ukraine have made some notable gains over the past week. And even though they are under considerable pressure from the Ukrainian military offensive, they continue to resist attempts to sever their supply lines. Ukraine has made progress in the areas surrounding the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. However, a continuous flow of supplies and reinforcements to the separatists from Russia — combined with heavy artillery fire from the Russian side of the border on Ukrainian army positions — has enabled the separatists to curb Ukrainian advances. In some locations, it has even led to some victories.