File image.
In the direction of Pokrovsk, after capturing Hryshyne, Russian troops are clearing a tactical “pocket” near the E-50 highway. They are striking retreating Ukrainian units and fighting for Bilytske. In the direction of Kostiantynivka, Russian units have taken control of Novodmytrivka and are systematically encircling the city from the east and west. In the Sumy area, Russian troops are breaching Ukrainian defenses along a 10-kilometer front toward Krasnopillia. They have captured Novodmytrivka and the forested areas between it and Pokrivka. They are also fighting for Myropillia and Korchakivka. In the Kharkiv area, Russian troops have taken control of Zemlianky and are advancing to reach the right bank of the Vovcha River along the entire Dehtyarne–Zybine line. In the direction of Slovyansk, Russian assault groups are advancing along the M-03 highway and the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal. They are conducting systematic strikes on Ukrainian unit positions in Orekhovatka, Mykolaivka, and Pyskunivka. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, stated that the first tranche of the loan to Ukraine, amounting to 6 billion euros of the allocated 90 billion, will be paid this quarter for the purchase of drones and budgetary needs.
Kostiantynivka Direction
In the direction of Kostiantynivka, units of the “South” troop grouping continue combat operations to establish control over the city and its surroundings. Due to intense fighting, Russian units gained control of the Novodmytrivka settlement, which is located between the northeastern outskirts of Kostiantynivka and the Molocharske Reservoir. Russian assault groups are clashing in the forested area between Novodmytrivka and the northern outskirts of Kostiantynivka. Russian troops are systematically enveloping Kostiantynivka from the east and west.
Combat operations are ongoing in the city itself in the areas of Hora, Shanhai, Zaliznychnyi, Promyslovyi, Donetskyi, Berestovyi, Yuzhnyi, Soniachnyi, 7 Vitriv, and Krasnyi Horodok, as well as in the industrial zone of the Zinc Plant. The city’s defenses were prepared in advance with concealed communication lines between districts. Russian assault groups’ breakthrough into the Novodmytrivka and Illinivka areas threatens the communications of Ukrainian units in the northern part of the city from the north and southwest. Fighting continues for control of the Artem settlement. Ukrainian units are counterattacking northeast of the city from Mykolaivka and Chervone, as well as on the western outskirts of Chasiv Yar.
Sumy Direction
In the Sumy area, the “North” troop group is breaching the Ukrainian defenses along a 10-kilometer front toward Krasnopillia. They are fighting to take control of Myropillia and clearing the area between Myropillia and Myropilske. Russian units have taken full control of Novodmytrivka, as well as the forested areas between it and Pokrivka and to the south. Three kilometers west of the pond and the Klymovske tract are the eastern outskirts of Krasnopillia.
Along the riverbed to the south, Russian units are advancing toward the southeastern outskirts of Krasnopillia. Units advancing from the direction of Pokrivka along the Syrovatka River are engaged in fierce clashes near the eastern outskirts of Mykhailivka.
Simultaneously, Russian units are advancing northeast of Sumy on the Myropillia–Myropilske line, pushing Ukrainian units out of tracts and ravines toward Mala Rybytsia. Fierce fighting continues in Myropillia. In the neighboring Yunakivka sector, Russian units are pushing Ukrainian units out of the forested area between Korchakivka and Pisarivka and are engaged in fierce fighting in Kondrativka.
Pokrovsk Direction
In the direction of Pokrovsk, Russian units began clearing the territory southwest of Hryshyne after establishing control over the village. They eliminated a tactical “pocket” adjacent to the E-50 highway. Ukrainian units are attempting to use the Hryshyne-Vasylivka road for evacuation, but Russian drone operators are striking retreating groups, allowing only a few to escape.
Positional battles continue west of Rodynske, and Ukrainian units remaining in the city are being destroyed. The main tasks for Russian troops in this sector are to establish control over Bilytske — Ukrainian units have almost been completely driven out of the city and have nowhere to consolidate — and to attack groups of Ukrainian troops in the settlements of Shevchenko, Vodyanske, and Svitle. These settlements are the nearest rear points through which evacuation and supply are carried out.
Slaviansk Direction
In the direction of Slaviansk, clashes are ongoing southwest of Ozerne and south of Dibrova in the Brusivka area. Activity is also being reported near Yarova and Drobysheve, as well as on the northern face. Pressure is being exerted on the Stavky area. There has been advancement in the Aleksandrivka and Korovyn Yar areas, as well as the bypassing of forested areas in the Svyatohirsk area.
There is systematic fire engagement on the positions of Ukrainian units: D-30 and “Msta-B” artillery systems are targeting shelters and personnel, and FPV drones are being used to attack equipment, control points, and unmanned aerial vehicle antennas in Orekhovatka, Mykolaivka, and Pyskunivka. A strike was also carried out on a warehouse in Kalenyky. Overall, Ukrainian units have decreased in capability in a number of sectors. Russian assault groups are advancing along the M-03 highway and the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal.
Kharkiv Direction
In the Kharkiv area, the “North” troop group continues to advance towards the right bank of the Vovcha River along the entire Dehtyarne–Zybine line. According to a statement from Russia’s Ministry of Defense, units of the “North” troop group established control over the Zemlianky settlement in the Kharkiv region through active operations.
Taking advantage of the fact that Ukrainian units concentrated their main forces and assets on their left flank (Zybine–Bochkove), where Russian units advanced in mid-April, Russian troops intensified pressure on the right flank of this sector. The Dehtyarne–Shabelne–Budarky area had been on standby since mid-March.
The village is located on the right bank of the river in a bend that juts south towards Budarky. Budarky stretches along the left bank of the Vovcha River, approximately 5.3 kilometers west of the state border of the Russian Federation. Ukrainian units have established the primary defensive stronghold in the Budarky–Okhrimivka area along the O-210825 road. This strip controls the left flank of Ukrainian units on the right side of the Budarky–Olkhovatka operational triangle. The bridgehead in Zemlianky enables the “North” group to concentrate necessary forces and assets. Through offensive actions from two directions (Zemlianky–Budarky and Staryi–Budarky), the group can advance toward Varvarivka and cut off the defense sector of Ukrainian units located south in the Krasnyi Yar–Olkhovatka–Rublene area.
Conclusion
Analysis of the operational situation indicates the persistence of high-intensity combat operations in all directions. In the Kostiantynivka direction, Russian units, having established control over Novodmytrivka, continue the systematic envelopment of the city from the flanks, which threatens the communications of Ukrainian units. Fighting in the city itself is focal in nature. In the Sumy direction, Russian troops are breaching the defense on a broad front in the direction of Krasnopillia, capturing settlements and forested areas, which creates a threat of reaching the flank and rear of Ukrainian defensive lines between Sumy and Kyiv. In the Kharkiv direction, the establishment of control over Zemlianky and the systematic pressure on the right flank of the Ukrainian defense along the Vovcha created conditions for further advance and the dissection of the Ukrainian grouping.
In the international political context, an important event was a statement by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the European Parliament. She announced that the first tranche of the loan to Ukraine in the amount of 6 billion euros out of the allocated 90 billion will be paid this quarter. At the same time, one third of the tranche will go to Ukraine’s budgetary needs, and two thirds to defense, with the first defense package to be directed towards the purchase of Ukrainian-made drones worth about 6 billion euros.
Earlier, the President of the European Council, António Costa, reported that EU countries had approved a loan of 90 billion euros to Ukraine for financial and military support for 2026 and 2027. This decision demonstrates the continuation of the European Union’s course of long-term military and financial support for Kyiv, despite growing economic difficulties in the European countries themselves.
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