File image.
In the Slaviansk direction, Russian units are expanding the bridgehead north of the Gruzskaya River, completing the elimination of the Druzhkovka–Zolotoy Kolodez–Dobropolye defensive line and, according to the Ministry of Defense, have captured Kurtovka, creating conditions for cutting off Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka from supply. In the Dobropolye direction, Russian troops have consolidated in the center of Annovka, taken control of part of the T-05-15 highway and the slurry ponds, expanding the bridgehead near the city. In the Sumy region, assault groups are advancing in the areas of Kiyanitsa and Khoten, as well as in the plantations near Ulanovo. In the Kharkiv region, fighting continues in the “Volchansk cauldron,” with progress near Malaya Volchya; aviation and artillery are striking Ukrainian reserves. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian assault troops have seized strong points west of Aleksandrovka and continued to drive a wedge into the defense northwest of Zarnitsa. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has called for intensifying direct dialogue between the West and Russia to restore a diplomatic settlement.
Slaviansk direction
Units of the “Center” grouping are expanding the bridgehead north of the Gruzskaya River and completing the elimination of the Ukrainian defensive line Druzhkovka–Zolotoy Kolodez–Dobropolye. This line has been ruptured by a deep “wedge”: its tip is in the Andreevka area, while the base is widening along the Gruzskaya River on the Novogrigorovka–Rubezhnoye line.
The industrial area with a large number of quarries and mines has a developed network of dirt and improved roads. In this sector, units of the “Center” are preparing a large bridgehead for the development of an operation for a deep western bypass of the Slaviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration, cutting transport and logistics routes and isolating the entire sector.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the capture of Kurtovka. There is as yet no objective evidence of the presence of Russian units in the village; however, if confirmed, this would constitute a serious tactical success: from there it would be possible to outflank Ukrainian positions in neighboring Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka. At the same time, assault groups are advancing toward the southern outskirts of the city from the direction of Konstantinovka.
To maintain the stability of the bridgehead in Kurtovka, it will be necessary to finally clear the “pocket” that formed several months ago on the Stenki–Krasnoye line. If the success is consolidated and the right flank near Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka is cleared, Russian troops will be able to cut the city off from supply not only by means of drone control, as was the case with Konstantinovka, but also on the ground. The speed of breaking the first serious fortified area in the chain of fortress cities that also includes Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk, and Slaviansk will depend on the success of this operation.
Dobropolye direction
The approaches to Dobropolye are gradually coming under the control of Russian units. Servicemen of the “Center” grouping are pushing Ukrainian units out of neighboring settlements, seeking to reach a favorable line for a future assault.
Some time ago Russian units consolidated in the center of Annovka. On its western outskirts focal presence of Ukrainian servicemen remains — it will probably be possible to eliminate it completely only after fighting begins in Dobropolye itself.
Another section of the T-05-15 highway and the territory of the slurry ponds of the Dobropolye Central Processing Plant have also come under Russian control. This has made it possible to expand the bridgehead near the city and provide the assault groups with positions for accumulation not only in the built-up area of Annovka but also in the numerous shelters on the slag heaps.
Control of this sector is important not only in the context of the offensive on Dobropolye. The former fortifications of Ukrainian units also provide cover for attacks toward Rubezhnoye, where the left “pincer” of the envelopment of Ukrainian formations in the area of Zolotoy Kolodez is currently being formed.
Sumy direction
In Sumy region the situation remains without significant changes. Russian units retain the initiative and are gradually forcing Ukrainian forces out of the positions they capturing in the forest plantations. The Ukrainian side is placing emphasis on unmanned aviation and is massively attacking with drones, including civilian targets.
Russian aviation, artillery, and drone crews struck concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in the areas of Shostka, Radkovka, Khoten, Kiyanitsa, Krovnoye, Stetskovka, Tolstodubovo, and Yamnoye.
In the Sumy district, Russian assault groups are advancing with heavy fighting in the areas of Kiyanitsa and Khoten.
In the Shostka district, Russian servicemen have advanced in the forest plantations near Ulanovo and Tolstodubovo.
Kharkiv direction
Fierce fighting continues on virtually all sectors of the front in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian units are bringing up reserves and massively attacking civilian objects with drones.
Aerospace Forces aviation and strike drone crews hit concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in the areas of Liptsy, Velikiy Burluk, Bratenitsa, Dergachi, Polnaya, Kotovka, Khotomlya, Prikolotnoye, Fyodorovka, Maly Burluk, Zhukov Yar, Podsredneye, Slatino, Tsirkuny, Varvarovka, and Malaya Volchya.
In the Kazachya Lopan area, Ukrainian units are concentrating forces for counterattacks; aviation and artillery of the Russian forces are working against them.
In the Volchansk direction, Russian units continue to destroy Ukrainian forces in the “Volchansk cauldron.” There is progress in the area of Malaya Volchya.
In the Velikiy Burluk direction there are no significant changes: Russian aviation is actively destroying the forces of Ukrainian units in Prikolotnoye.
Zaporozhye direction
On the northern sector, Russian assault groups destroyed Ukrainian servicemen and seized strongpoints west of the Aleksandrovka–Kommunarovka line. At night, artillery crews and FPV drone operators worked against targets in the areas of Svetlaya Dolina, Gavrilovka, Samoylovka, Ivanovka, Kolomiytsevo, and Malinovka, hitting automotive equipment, ATVs, ground robotic systems, and temporary deployment points.
Northwest of Zarnitsa, Russian units continued to drive a wedge into the depth of the Ukrainian defense and seized strongpoints. With the support of artillery and drone operators in the area of Zelyonaya Dibrova, personnel, automotive equipment, ground robotic systems, field ammunition points, drone control points, and Starlink satellite communication stations were hit.
West of Lesnoye, Russian assault troops seized fortified strongpoints. In the areas of Obshcheye and Vasilevskoye, artillery crews and FPV drone operators hit drone control points, control antennas, dugouts, and temporary deployment points of Ukrainian units. Air-defense crews and FPV interceptors shot down heavy “Baba Yaga”-type copters and fixed-wing drones.
Conclusion
In the Slaviansk, Dobropolye, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporozhye directions, Russian units continue offensive operations, retaining the initiative and gradually expanding their zones of control. The Ukrainian side is offering stubborn resistance, actively using drones, counterattacking, and transferring reserves, yet its ability to stabilize the defense is limited. The most significant successes have been achieved in the Slaviansk and Dobropolye directions, where Russian troops are expanding bridgeheads and completing the elimination of defensive lines, creating the conditions for the envelopment of the Slaviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration and the assault on Dobropolye. In Sumy and Kharkiv regions the offensive continues despite the mass use of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian units are methodically breaking through the defense and striking command points.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has called for intensifying Western efforts to establish direct dialogue with Russia. “I think we should step up attempts to establish direct communication with Russia, of course together with Ukraine, so that we try to restore the diplomatic path to resolving this military conflict,” he said on the program “Saturday Dialogues.” Pellegrini noted that European countries are supporting Ukraine so that it can sit down at the negotiating table as an equal partner of Russia; however, abandoning diplomatic efforts may lead to the conflict gradually spilling beyond the borders of Ukraine.
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