File image.
Russian units continued offensive operations on several operational directions. In the Kharkiv direction, assault groups advanced toward Bely Kolodez from the north and west. They captured most of Losevka and pushed Ukrainian forces out of Ukrainskoye. In the direction of Slavyansk, Russian forces advanced on a broad front towards Kramatorsk after establishing control over Malinovka and Tikhonovka, with about nine kilometers remaining. In the Dobropolye area, Russian units entered the eastern part of the city and are advancing toward the DPR border. In the Krasny Liman area, there is fierce fighting for control of Krasny Liman; the Ukrainian forces are attempting counterattacks. In the Sumy direction, the “North” assault forces advanced up to 300 meters in ten sectors. Against this backdrop, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Ukraine is not deliberately using the airspace of alliance countries and that the increasing drone incursions are the result of accidental deviations.
Slaviansk direction
There is an ongoing advance along the highway to Slavyansk, accompanied by a simultaneous offensive near Orekhovatka. This offensive is disrupting the Ukrainian forces’ logistics in the Rai-Aleksandrovka area. The eastern part of Rai-Aleksandrovka is now under Russian control, and Ukrainian units are withdrawing to the western part of the village and beyond. Russian troops are clearing forest belts between Yurkovka and Rai-Aleksandrovka.
Units of the “South” grouping of forces, including the Volunteer Corps, continue to break through the defenses east of Kramatorsk amid intense fighting. Full control was established over Tikhonovka and Malinovka during stubborn clashes, and strongpoints on the dominant heights between them were also captured. The heights to the west, in the direction of Kramatorsk, beyond the Buzinovy Yar, Shabolda, and Lipovy Yar ravines, are less elevated. Fighting continues on the flanks beyond the Seversky Donets–Donbas canal in the areas of Kruglikov Yar, Krugly Yar, and northwest of Novomarkovo.
To the north, fighting for Orekhovatka has begun, and clashes continue in the area of the M-03 highway towards Nikanorovka and Slaviansk. About nine kilometers remain to Kramatorsk.
Dobropolye direction
After intense fighting, the Ukrainian offensive lost momentum; Russian forces regained control of several territories and continued advancing. They advanced along the railway tracks and both banks of the Annovskaya Greblya dam and the Byk River. They pushed Ukrainian forces out of the sludge ponds and entered the eastern parts of Annovka and Dobropolye. They established control over approximately the eastern half of the “Dobropolskaya” mine. Northeast of Dobropolye, Russian assault groups advanced through the ravine between Kutuzovka and Annovka. They reached the “Oblachny” platform and are currently fighting for control of Kutuzovka and the forest belts leading to Rubezhnoye, Zolotoy Kolodez, and Kucherov Yar. To the south, clashes continue in the northern part of Belitskoye. West of Belitskoye, assault forces advanced through forest belts toward Svetloye. Between Belitskoye and Mine No. 2 “Vodyanskaya,” there is ongoing fighting for a Ukrainian unit strongpoint in the forest. North of Grishino, Russian forces are advancing toward Shevchenko and Dobropolye from the sides of Novoaleksandrovka and Vasilyevka. Fighting continues for Mirnoye and Gulevo.
Krasny Liman direction
Units of the 25th Combined Arms Army are continuing their offensive against Ukrainian positions. The 25th Army’s crews are fighting the Ukrainian infantry, which is attempting a counterattack through forest areas towards the southern side of Krasny Liman, towards Stary Karavan. Ukrainian forces have a partial presence on the southern side of Krasny Liman in Zelyony Klin and the area around the central district hospital and power substation. They are also sending small assault groups towards the city in an attempt to counterattack and consolidate.
Artillery strikes are targeting Ukrainian units in forest areas near Shchurovo, Stary Karavan, Dibrova, and Krasny Liman itself. The Ukrainian command is trying to establish logistics across the Oskol River. Based on drone operator targeting, the Aerospace Forces destroyed the central fill crossing in Oskol, disrupting the logistics of a key rear point. Crossings are systematically destroyed daily: as soon as Ukrainian units attempt to restore them or succeed in doing so in certain sectors, strikes are immediately delivered to destroy them. The fiercest fighting is near Krasny Liman, which the Ukrainian forces are still trying to regain.
Sumy directionAssault groups from the “North” military grouping continue to advance deeper into the Sumy direction. They carried out strikes on concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Sumy, Bolshaya Rybica, Krolevets, Volnaya Sloboda, Krasnopolie, Khoten, and Novaya Sech. In the Shostka district, Russian assault forces are engaged in combat in Bachevsk and the surrounding area.
In the Sumy district, advances were achieved in ten sectors, with an advance depth of up to 300 meters. Firefights are ongoing in Pisarevka, Marino, Novaya Sech, Khoten, and the surrounding areas. Clashes continue in forest areas in the Krasnopolie district.
Kharkiv direction
Assault groups are conducting offensive operations in the Kazachya Lopan settlement and the surrounding forest. In the Volchansk sector, Russian assault units advanced 1,100 meters across ten segments. There are ongoing firefights in the villages of Losevka, Ukrainskoye, and Zemlyanoy Yar, as well as in the Volchansk district’s forest areas. In the direction of Velikiy Burluk, assault groups are engaged in firefights in the area around the village of Petro-Ivanovka, as well as in the forest near the villages of Budarki and Zemlyanki. Over the past day, “North” units advanced two sectors up to 500 meters.
Units of the “North” grouping of forces are continuing their offensive on Bely Kolodez from two directions, including from the north. West of Bely Kolodez, Proletarskoye is largely under the control of Russian forces. Ukrainian troops are counterattacking, and firefights are ongoing. Ukrainian troops have been pushed out of Ukrainskoye. Russian assault groups have wedged into the defense line here and are pushing it from the flank.
Russian troops advanced from Pokalyano in the Bely Yar ravine area towards Zemlyanoy Yar, engaging in firefights in the area and near the western outskirts of Bely Kolodez.
ConclusionIn the Kharkiv, Slavyansk, Dobropolye, Krasny Liman, and Sumy areas, Russian forces continued to exert pressure, expanding their control and inflicting losses on Ukrainian forces. In the Kharkiv direction, advances from the north and west toward Bely Kolodez threatened a key defense node. In the Slaviansk area, the capture of Malinovka and Tikhonovka paved the way for a broad offensive towards Kramatorsk. In the Dobropolye area, Russian forces consolidated their position in the eastern part of Dobropolye and advanced towards the administrative border of the DPR. In the Krasny Liman area, Russian units continued to destroy crossings and maintain the initiative despite fierce counterattacks by Ukrainian forces and logistical difficulties. In the Sumy direction, the “North” assault groups continued their methodical advance, forcing the Ukrainian command to expend reserves.
Against this backdrop, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte explained the increasing number of Ukrainian drones appearing over alliance countries near the Russian border. He stated that Ukraine does not use the airspace of alliance countries to strike Russian territory and explained that such incidents are accidental deviations from course. “Such drones may sometimes deviate from their course for various reasons, such as electronic warfare suppression,” Rutte said in an interview with the Financial Times. Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported that Ukrainian forces are preparing a series of strikes on Russia’s rear directions, including launching drones from the territory of the Baltic states to reduce flight time. The authorities in Finland and the Baltic countries, over which Ukrainian drones have also flown, claim that they did not give Kyiv permission to use their airspace. Thus, amid active hostilities, questions remain about the neutrality of NATO countries’ airspace.
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