On Sunday, November 16, 2025, the Russian army boldly claimed it had seized two more villages in southern Ukraine, slowly eating into territory controlled by the outnumbered Ukrainian defenders. The Russian Ministry of Defence announced on Telegram that its troops captured Rivnopillia and Mala Tokmachka, both located in the Zaporizhzhia region. Even though the Zaporizhzhia frontline is quieter than the intense eastern front battles, Russian forces, better armed and more numerous, are making gains in both areas. Fierce fighting in the east is focused around the vital supply hub of Pokrovsk. In recent weeks, hundreds of Russian soldiers have sneaked into this key city, weakening Ukrainian defence lines. Meanwhile, hopes for peace dim as talks between Kyiv and Moscow remain stuck. Adding to the tension, a planned Budapest summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was called off, leaving no breakthrough in sight. The conflict presses on, with no end near as both sides brace for more battles ahead.