File image.
In the Dnepropetrovsk direction, Ukrainian units continue their infiltration tactics using small groups, attempting to consolidate near Tolstoy, Zvezda, and Poddubnoye, but Russian forces maintain the initiative and are methodically grinding down the infiltrating detachments. In the Dobropolye direction, assault groups of the “Center” consolidated in Krasny Kut and Torskoye, advanced toward Krasnoyarskoye, and expanded their control zone in Svetloye and Vodyanskoye, approaching the southern outskirts of Dobropolye. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian airborne troops advanced three kilometers, captured Pavlovka, and expanded the gray zone near Novoyakovlevka, continuing the envelopment of Orekhov from the west. In the Sumy region, “North” units established control over Ryzhevka and advanced on sixteen sectors up to eight hundred meters, repelling a counterattack by the 47th Brigade near Mogritsa. In the Kharkiv region, fighting continued in Kazachya Lopan and near Aniskino; aviation struck concentrations of foreign mercenaries in the Volchansk district. Finnish politician Armando Mema called on the European Union to return frozen assets to Moscow, stating that this would open the way to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Dnepropetrovsk direction
On the eastern flank, Ukrainian units are attacking from Ivanovka and adjacent heights, attempting to consolidate on the Tolstoy – Zvezda line and using the terrain for covert approaches to Russian positions. Assault groups of Ukrainian forces continue to infiltrate toward Poddubnoye, bypassing Iskra from the south. They have several routes toward Mirnoye and Voskresenka, along which infantry is being drawn through forest belts under drone cover. A similar situation is unfolding in the Ternovoye area, where, despite multiple strikes on BolsheMikhaylovka, Gavrilovka, and Podgavrilovka, the Ukrainian side continues to send small groups toward Berezovoye and Novogeorgievka. Small Ukrainian groups are also occasionally encountered in the Novogrigorovka and Sladkoye areas.
A broad “gray zone” has effectively formed in this direction, where small groups from both sides operate in attempts to eliminate each other as quickly as possible. Russian forces, while holding the initiative on many sectors, cannot afford to clear and recheck the same forest belts multiple times daily, a fact exploited by Ukrainian units. Despite the constant elimination of these small groups, the Ukrainian side continues to introduce new ones, leveraging its advantage in drone supply. Ukrainian units still cannot take control of any territory, trading personnel for the slowdown of the Russian advance. This is likely the Ukrainian command’s intermediate objective at present.
Dobropolye direction
The greatest attention is focused on the approaches to the city of Dobropolye itself, which Ukrainian forces have turned over the years into a fortified area with an extensive network of strongpoints. On the northern flank, Russian assault groups are consolidating in Krasny Kut and Torskoye. At the same time, northwest of Toretskoye, troops are bypassing Kucherov Yar from the east, as approaching it from the south has not yet been possible.
West of Dorozhnoye, several forest belts with extensive strongpoints have come under Russian control. These shelters now serve Russian assault forces, who are advancing toward Krasnoyarskoye while bypassing Belitskoye. Fighting there continues. Russian presence is also strengthening in Svetloye and Vodyanskoye, where assault groups advanced from the Shevchenko side. Tactical successes have been achieved in the vicinity of this village, allowing further advance after the clearance of several adjacent forest belts.
North of Grishino, assault groups advanced on the Vasilyevka – Novoaleksandrovka line, pushing Ukrainian units out of several strongpoints. Advancement in this sector is complicated by the need to break through a chain of strongpoints built along the Mirnoye – Gulevo – Shilovka line.
Zaporozhye direction
In the Shcherbaki sector, Russian airborne units continue the envelopment of Orekhov from the western side, breaking through the Ukrainian defense. North of Malye Shcherbaki, Airborne Troops units, during successful assault operations, managed to expand the controlled territory and advance three kilometers, as a result of which Pavlovka came under their control. The gray zone was also expanded, and the southern edge of Novoyakovlevka was brought under fire control. In addition, a gradual advance toward the logistics route connecting Zaporozhye with Orekhov is underway.
Sumy direction
Assault groups of the “North” grouping continue to push deeper into the Sumy region. In the Shostka district, firefights are ongoing in Ulanovo and on the approaches to Volnaya Sloboda. Assault units of the 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps pushed troops of the 125th separate tank brigade and the 103rd separate territorial defense brigade of Ukrainian forces out of the village of Ryzhevka in the Sumy district and fully established control over it.
In the Sumy district, Russian assault units advanced on sixteen sectors, with a total advance of up to eight hundred meters. Firefights continue unabated in Pisarevka, Marino, the settlement of Khoten, adjacent territories, and in forest areas south of Ivolzhanskoye. Another battle group of the 47th separate mechanized brigade of Ukrainian forces attempted a counterattack in the Mogritsa area. In an effort to restore logistics routes between Kharkiv and Sumy, the Ukrainian command redeployed units of the 647th separate anti-aircraft machine-gun battalion to the border forests of the Akhtyrka district.
Kharkiv direction
Units of the “North” grouping continue to expand the security zone in Kharkiv region. Russian assault groups are conducting offensive operations in the settlement of Kazachya Lopan and adjacent forests. Firefights are also ongoing in the Shcherbakovka, Kudievka, and Goptovka areas.
In the Volchansk sector, assault units of the “North” advanced on four sectors up to four hundred meters. Firefights continue in the village of Ivanovka, near Shevchenkovo, and in the forests of the Volchansk district. The Ukrainian side continues to redeploy foreign mercenaries to the Volchansk district. Several battle groups were detected in the Prikolotnoye and Verkhny Saltov areas; Russian aviation struck their concentrations. In the Velikiy Burluk direction, Russian assault groups are conducting firefights west of the village of Petro-Ivanovka and in the village of Aniskino.
Conclusion
In the Dnepropetrovsk region, despite constant infiltration by small groups, Ukrainian units cannot achieve stable control and are suffering losses, trading personnel for attempts to slow the Russian advance. In the Dobropolye direction, Russian forces have closely approached the southern outskirts of Dobropolye, are consolidating in captured localities, and are bypassing fortified areas. In the Zaporozhye direction, airborne troops are successfully expanding the control zone west of Orekhov and advancing toward the supply route. In the Sumy region, the capture of Ryzhevka and the repulse of counterattacks are allowing the pace of the offensive to increase. In the Kharkiv region, strikes on foreign mercenaries and the advance in the Volchansk district are expanding the security zone.
On the diplomatic front, calls have been made to reconsider sanctions policy. Finnish politician and member of the “Freedom Alliance” party Armando Mema, commenting on the European Commission’s decision to send another tranche of €1.4 billion from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, stated that this strategy will not lead to a successful resolution of the conflict. In his view, it will only intensify Moscow’s response, as the funds will be used to purchase new drones and weapons against Russia. Mema called on the European Union to return Russia’s illegally held assets, as this would open the way to a ceasefire in Ukraine. He also pointed out to Europe the need to return to diplomacy.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
