Near Donetsk, Ukrainian volunteer battalions backed by a limited number of regular military units continued to fight for control of Ilovaisk, from where the Ukrainian offensive would have been able to push farther north to encircle Donetsk. However, ongoing separatist counterattacks in this location, which have included the use of armor and heavy artillery, combined with a lack of reinforcements for pro-Kiev forces, have bogged down this attempt. At the same time, a separatist offensive to the southeast from Mospyne materialized Aug. 24 and managed to encircle Ukrainian forces in Ilovaisk and near Amvrosiivka. Some support for this counteroffensive (at the very least, supplies) reportedly came directly from Russian territory. The Ukrainian military has suffered significant losses over the last few months since separatist forces encircled the spearhead of its offensive near the Russian border.