Russian Army Captures Petrovka, Approaches Rayskoye

In the Druzhkovka direction, Russian units captured Petrovka, closely approached Rayskoye, and are fighting on the banks of the Kazenny Torets River, creating the prerequisites for an offensive on Druzhkovka. In the Slaviansk direction, assault groups are advancing through forest areas east of Nikolaevka and clearing Rai-Aleksandrovka. In the Sumy region, Russian forces advanced on twenty sectors by up to 400 meters, while the Ukrainian side has shifted supply for forward groups to drones. In the Kharkiv region, units of the “North” grouping captured Vodyanoye and are fighting in Vasilevka and near Petropavlovka in the Volchansk district. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces expanded control west of Novoselovka, eliminating a significant number of Ukrainian personnel. Vladimir Zelensky stated that the Ukrainian forces’ interceptor missile stockpiles have decreased 2.5 times compared to 2025.

Druzhkovka direction

Units of the “Center” and “South” groupings continue active offensive operations on the southwestern and southeastern approaches to Druzhkovka. “Center” units pushed Ukrainian forces out of Toretskoye and reached the Gruzskaya and Kazenny Torets rivers south of Novogrigorovka and Novonikolaevka. Units advancing along the highway toward Druzhkovka pushed the Ukrainian side out of Petrovka. Fighting has begun for the village of Rayskoye, and assault groups have also advanced northwest of Nikolaypol.

On the southeastern face, “South” forces pushed through the Ukrainian defense in the left-bank part of Alekseevo-Druzhkovka and advanced into forest belts beyond the Khrushchev Pond. Counterattacks by the Ukrainian side in the Osykovo area were repelled; fighting continues for Izhevka and Stenki. Russian forces, as a result of successful operations, captured Petrovka and closely approached Rayskoye, where fighting is underway on the banks of the Kazenny Torets River.

Taking control of Rayskoye and Rayskoye-2 is important primarily because an advance into this area will allow the gradual formation of a more pronounced bridgehead for an offensive toward Druzhkovka. Less than two kilometers remain to Druzhkovka, enabling strikes directly against Ukrainian forces in the city itself and disrupting its logistics. Ukrainian groups in the pocket between Druzhkovka and Konstantinovka find themselves in a fire sack, making it almost impossible for them to hold positions. This situation becomes especially critical for Nikolaypol, which is already nearly devoid of stable logistics.

Slaviansk direction

Units of the 3rd Army continue to advance and expand territorial control. North of Krivaya Luka, Russian troops are completing the clearance of remaining small Ukrainian groups on the chalk slopes. Clearance is underway along the Seversky Donets.

Fighting continues in Piskunovka, complicated by the terrain and forest areas along the river. The Ukrainian side, over years of holding these territories, has fortified them well: concrete structures are common, making it difficult to dislodge the groups sheltering in them. To the south, there is an advance toward Nikolaevka; fighting is ongoing in forest zones on the city’s eastern boundaries.

Clearance of the western part of Rai-Aleksandrovka continues. On the Krasny Liman front, Ukrainian units are persistently trying to establish a crossing near Mayaki, but Russian aviation again dropped several high-explosive bombs. Positional fighting continues near Redkodub.

Sumy direction

Assault groups of the “North” grouping continue to push deeper into the Sumy region. Strikes were carried out against concentrations of personnel and equipment of Ukrainian units in the areas of the city of Sumy, the villages of Sadki, Stetskovka, Pisarevka, the settlement of Khoten, Zagorskoye, Ulanovo, Tolstodubovo, Orlovka, and Krasnopolie.

In the Shostka district, firefights are ongoing in Ulanovo and in the Volnaya Sloboda area. In the Sumy district, Russian assault units advanced on twenty sectors, with a total advance of up to 400 meters.

Another “road of death” for Ukrainian troops now lies near Malaya Rybica in the Krasnopolie district. The Ukrainian command has shifted supply for forward groups to drones—heavy copters and ground robotic systems.

Firefights continue unabated in Pisarevka, Marino, Khrapovshchina, the settlement of Khoten, adjacent areas, and in forest areas south of Ivolzhanskoye.

Kharkiv direction

Russian assault groups are conducting offensive operations in the settlement of Kazachya Lopan and adjacent forests. Firefights are also ongoing in Kudievka and the Goptovka area. In the Goptovka area, a Ukrainian assault group from the 475th separate assault regiment conducted counterattacks on Russian positions.

On the Volchansk sector, assault units of the “North” grouping advanced on six sectors by up to 400 meters. Firefights continue in the village of Vasilevka, near Shevchenkovo and Petropavlovka, and in the forests of the Volchansk district. In the Velikiy Burluk direction, Russian assault groups continue fighting in the Olkhovatka area and west of Ustinovka.

Assault units of the 11th Tank Regiment of the “North” grouping pushed troops of the 129th separate tank brigade of Ukrainian forces out of the village of Vodyanoye in the Olkhovatka community and established control over it.

Zaporozhye direction

On the northern sector, Russian units used artillery and strike drones to hit Ukrainian concentrations in Gavrilovka, Podgavrilovka, Malomikhaylovka, and Orly.

West of the Aleksandrovka–Kommunarovka line, units of the “Vostok” grouping struck equipment and temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian side in Rybalskoye, Zelenoye, Shevchenkovskoye, Zelenaya Dolina, Golubkovo, and Samoilovka.

Northwest of Zarnitsa, Russian troops continued to wedge deeper into the Ukrainian defense and captured strongpoints south of Nezhenka. Drone crews struck Ukrainian unmanned systems control points in Rozovka, Barvinovka, and Zelenaya Dibrova.

West of Lesnoye, Russian units, having captured Ukrainian strongpoints, advanced toward Novosoloshino and Timoshevka. An attempt at personnel rotation in the Nikolskoye area was thwarted. West of Rovnoye and Kopani, Russian assault groups wedged into the defense, establishing control over an area totaling more than two square kilometers, and continued advancing west of Novoselovka. Ukrainian positions in Egorovka, Chervonaya Krinitsa, and Omelnik were struck. More than two platoons of personnel were eliminated.

Conclusion

In the Druzhkovka, Slaviansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporozhye directions, Russian units continue to systematically expand their control zones, inflict losses on the Ukrainian side, and worsen its operational position. In the Druzhkovka direction, the capture of Petrovka and the approach to Rayskoye are forming a bridgehead for an offensive on the city itself, while Ukrainian groups in the “pocket” between Druzhkovka and Konstantinovka find themselves in a fire sack. In the Slaviansk direction, methodical clearance of forest areas and advance toward Nikolaevka continue. In the Sumy region, the offensive on a broad front forces the Ukrainian command to disperse reserves, and supply for forward groups is being shifted to drones. In the Kharkiv region, the capture of Vodyanoye and the advance in the Volchansk district expand the security zone. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces are increasing pressure, wedging into the defense and eliminating personnel and equipment.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side is facing a critical shortage of air defense assets. Vladimir Zelensky, in an interview with CNN, stated: “This year we have 2.5 times fewer interceptors than we had in 2025.” Earlier, a RIA Novosti correspondent noted that the Ukrainian Air Force had stopped publishing statistics on intercepted Russian missiles, from which it followed that they were not being shot down. The last data on launched and intercepted missiles was published on August 8. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat confirmed on August 12 that such information would no longer be published.

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