Ukraine pushed to defend Donbas 'fortress belt' shielding its last major strongholds

Russian forces have been trying to break through the last Ukrainian stronghold in Donbas for more than a year.

Known as Ukraine's 'fortress belt', it shields Ukraine's Donbas cities – Kramatorsk, Slovyansk and Kostyantynivka.

Key to the country's survival, Ukrainian forces have spent the past decade reinforcing this fortress belt with a massive network of bunkers, trenches, and anti-tank ditches. 

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With US president Donald Trump entertaining a land-swap, Vladimir Putin is demanding that the last 20% of Donetsk and Luhansk be handed over, a move President Zelensky says Ukraine will never accept.

BFBS Forces' Simon Newton has the details in the video above.