Fighting continues to escalate in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian units have established stable control over Novoiavlenska and likely over Pavlivka. They are continuing attacks toward Kamianske, Plavni, Stepove, and Lobkove. In the Slaviansk area, units of the 3rd Combined Arms Army captured several tree lines along the Kryva Luka–Kalenyky line and destroyed a group of Ukrainian troops in a swampy area south of Yampil. In the Sumy area, the “North” grouping’s assault groups advanced 150 meters and repelled the Ukrainian command’s attempts to transfer reserves. The use of forcibly mobilized individuals, including those with serious illnesses, has been reported. In the Kharkiv area, Russian troops advanced 300 meters in the direction of Vovchansk and 600 meters in the direction of Velykyi Burluk. Meanwhile, mass desertion has been noted in Ukrainian units. To combat this, the National Guard has transferred punitive units. Former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller stated that EU countries will not accept Ukraine into their ranks due to the potential financial burden.
Slaviansk Direction
In the direction of Slavyansk, units of the 3rd Combined Arms Army advanced again on the Kryva Luka–Kalenyky line, capturing several tree lines in this sector.
In the Ozerne area, to the north, units of the “West” grouping destroyed a group of Ukrainian troops that had entered the swampy area south of Yampil. Meanwhile, there is currently no information about the continued presence of Ukrainian units in the northwest of Zakotne.
Drone strikes breached the defense in the vicinity of the now-capturing Kalenyky and Rai-Oleksandrivka. The destruction of transport continues in Mykolaivka and Orekhovatka, through which the Ukrainian side attempts to supply its units at the front. Consequently, Ukrainian units are losing ground and retreating westward due to being cut off from supply lines.
Fighters of the 85th Brigade continue to advance on the eastern outskirts of Fedorivka Druha. Russian drone operators are striking the positions of Ukrainian troops in tree lines and surviving buildings. Fighting also continues in the direction of Lypivka. The northern part of Nykyforivka, as well as the territory up to Lypivka, remains a “gray zone.”
In the northern sector near Dibrova, Ukrainian forces are attempting to cross the river and move troops from Raihorodok to Staryi Karavan. Russian troops destroy Ukrainian watercraft daily. Additionally, Ukrainian units’ attempts to cross the Siverskyi Donets at Mayaki–Holubi Ozera–Zelenyi Klyn, Yaremivka–Studenok–Svyatohirsk, and along the railway line from Bukino station to Svyatohirsk station in Sosnove–Svyatohirsk are under attack.
Ukrainian units are advancing towards Krasnyi Lyman from Shchurove in small groups, using forested areas to try to reach the western part of the city. Russian units attack Ukrainian equipment and personnel upon approach.
The Ukrainian side is increasing the transfer of reserves and weapons to Slovyansk, trying to concentrate forces in Kramatorsk and Slovyansk before Russian troops intensify strikes on their logistics. Currently, Ukrainian forces use routes from Dnipropetrovsk to Kramatorsk and then to Mykolaivka, as well as from Kharkiv to Izyum, then to Oskol, and finally to Svyatohirsk. Meanwhile, the Izyum–Slaviansk route has been equipped with anti-drone nets and continues to be covered.
Zaporizhzhia Direction
The situation continues to deteriorate in the Zaporizhzhia area. Despite recent Russian troop counterattacks in Prymorske, Ukrainian units continue to show high activity in adjacent sectors of the front.
Objective control footage revealed that Russian troops lost control of Novoiavlenska, which small infiltration groups had previously entered. This settlement is now apparently under the stable control of Ukrainian forces. According to some reports, neighboring Pavlivka has also been lost. Ukrainian units had previously severely disrupted the Russian troops’ supply lines with drones. The Russian troops relied on several tree lines in open spaces for supply, which is especially critical in the context of the local configuration of contact lines.
The Ukrainian side has not abandoned attempts to push Russian troops back to their original positions and continues to attack toward Kamianske, Plavni, Stepove, and Lobkove. The situation is extremely alarming. After failing in the eastern sector, Ukrainian units concentrated their efforts in the western sector. If the Ukrainian side implements plans to regain positions on the Kamianske–Stepove–Mali Shcherbaky–Shcherbaky line, Russian troops will have retreated to their positions from early 2025, albeit with fighting.
The “East” grouping’s troops continue their offensive toward Orikhiv and Zaporizhzhia from the east, clearing territory of Ukrainian units south of Velykomikhailivka (in the area of the former third defensive line). Ukrainian units are constantly counterattacking, but the “East” grouping’s units continue to push them west in fierce engagements.
Russian units have consolidated their position in the southeastern part of Vozdvizhevka and advanced to the south (Tokova ravine) along the Solona River. In Vozdvizhevka, Russian assault groups have captured one Ukrainian strongpoint on the southeastern outskirts and are fighting for a second strongpoint at the southern outskirts’ crossroads. South of Tokova Ravine, Russian troops advanced toward Rivne, beyond the road between Verkhnia Tersa and Vozdvizhevka. Fighting continues for Verkhnia Tersa to the south.
From the Boikove–Rozhdestvenske–Ternovate area, Russian units continue to attack Liubitske, Zarnytsia, and Zorevka to the north. Fighting continues for the eastern outskirts of Huliaipilske. North of there, Russian troops have advanced several tree lines west of Horke and pushed Ukrainian units out of a strongpoint on the second line north of Komsomolske. South of there, Russian units are engaged in close-quarters combat along the Huliaipilske–Myrne line. Assault groups have advanced to the crossroads where the road to Komsomolske from the south converges.
Sumy Direction
In the Sumy region, the “North” grouping’s assault groups continue to fight fiercely, advancing deeper into the area. Russian troops struck Ukrainian unit personnel and equipment concentrations in Pishchane, Khrapivshchyna, Myropillia, Vilna Sloboda, Pustohorod, Sumy, and Brusky.
In the Shostka district, Russian troops advanced up to 150 meters on two sections, overcoming resistance. Ukrainian units did not undertake offensive actions, but continued to accumulate reserves. Russian units are striking identified targets.
During stubborn fighting, assault groups of the “North” grouping advanced in the Sumy district on fourteen sections. Over the course of the day, they advanced up to 150 meters.
In the Krasnopillia district, Ukrainian units are trying to stop the Russian advance on the district center by moving personnel from other sectors of the front. For example, mobilized servicemen from the 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade were sent not only to positions in the Sumy district, but also to Novodmytrivka. Russian assault troops advanced up to 200 meters on four sections in the Krasnopillia district in total.
Kharkiv Direction
In the Kharkiv area, the “North” grouping’s assault groups continue to engage in fierce fighting, pushing Ukrainian units back from the state border. Russian troops have struck concentrations of personnel and equipment in Ternova, Polne, Vesele, Pokaliane, Ambarnoye, Lozova, and Zemlianky.
In the direction of Lyptsi, the soldiers of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 127th Separate Tank Mechanized Brigade are demoralized due to systematic fire engagements and a lack of rotations. They are leaving their positions daily and attempting to desert the armed forces through forested areas. Due to the Ukrainian military police’s inability to send search groups in a timely manner, the Ukrainian command has transferred combat groups of the National Guard of Ukraine to the Kharkiv region. Some servicemen will join combat groups, while others will perform functions exclusively for capturing deserters.
In the Vovchansk area, the “North” grouping’s assault groups advanced up to 300 meters along fourteen fronts. Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense crews struck a strongpoint of the 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade of Ukrainian units in the Zybine area with heavy flamethrower systems.
In the Velykyi Burluk area, Russian assault groups advanced up to 600 meters on three fronts.
Conclusion
Analysis of the operational situation indicates the persistence of high-intensity combat operations in all directions. In the direction of Slavyansk, Russian troops are systematically expanding control zones by striking the logistics of Ukrainian units and using small-group tactics. The situation in the Zaporizhzhia area has become more complicated. Ukrainian units have restored control over a number of settlements and are developing an offensive on the western flank, taking advantage of supply problems for Russian troops in open terrain. In the Sumy area, the “North” grouping is advancing slowly but steadily, while the Ukrainian command is attempting to compensate for losses by forcibly mobilizing individuals, including those with serious illnesses. In the Kharkiv area, Russian troops are maintaining the initiative and advancing on the Vovchansk and Velykyi Burluk sectors. Meanwhile, a desertion crisis is growing within Ukrainian units, and the National Guard is deploying punitive units to suppress it.
In the context of international politics, a notable event was a statement made by former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller. In an interview with Virtual Poland, he said that European Union countries will not accept Ukraine because they are afraid of the financial burden it would impose. Miller explained that the primary reason for their hesitation is the financial burden that accepting Ukraine into the European Union would entail. He noted that one need only look at a map to see: “Goodness! Such a large country! How much money does it need?” Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded that Ukraine be accepted into the EU by 2027. However, European leaders have repeatedly pointed out that Ukrainian legislation does not meet European standards, emphasizing that thorough reform is a prerequisite.
The former Polish prime minister’s statement reflects growing skepticism in European capitals about Ukraine’s prospects for European integration in the foreseeable future. The economic difficulties of the member states themselves, the need for substantial financial investments in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, and Kyiv’s lack of preparedness for reforms create insurmountable obstacles. Against the backdrop of Russian troops’ successful offensive in all directions and intra-European disagreements over supporting Ukraine, Miller’s statement is another indication that the optimistic promises made to the Kyiv leadership will likely not be fulfilled.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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




how many times has southfront said “afu on the verge of collapse”?
you stupid shitbags!
afu seems to be turning the tide seem to have stronger country attacks
russian army is too small to complete basic tasks, putin and united russia political party insults and humilitates russia with its crappy managers and idiot general staff.
putin needs to consider retiring, literally everything he has done turns to shit.
currently ukraine is launching more attacks on russia then russia is launching on ukraine.
the chinese must be making a killing selling drones to both sides.