Russian Army Develops Offensive on Orekhov

In the Sumy direction, Russian assault groups of the “North” grouping advanced in the areas of Khoten, Kiyanitsa and Maryino, as well as near Ulanovo and Tolstodubovo; heavy fighting is under way near Stepok. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian units are increasing pressure on the encircled Ukrainian forces, have taken Buzovo and Khizhnyakovo and approached Reznikovo, where a major fortified area is concentrated. In the Zaporozhye direction, paratroopers and motor-rifle units continue the envelopment of the Ukrainian grouping in Orekhov, have expanded the grey zone as far as Omelnyk and disrupted logistics. In the Slavyansk direction, Russian troops are driving deeper into Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka and developing the offensive in the area of Kurtovka, Verolyubovka and Fyodorovka toward Belokuzminovka. In France, Marine Le Pen stated that Paris can no longer provide financial assistance to Ukraine because of the country’s emergency financial situation.

Sumy direction

Heavy positional fighting continues on all sectors of the front in the Sumy region. Assault groups of the “North” grouping advanced on a number of sectors with the support of artillery and drones. Ukrainian units took no active actions and concentrated on strengthening the positions they hold.

The Ukrainian command transferred several pieces of armored equipment to the Sumy region. Most of them are vehicles restored after repair. It is most likely that Ukrainian units will employ them on closed firing positions in defense in order to compensate for the shortage of manpower.

In Sumy district Russian assault troops advanced near Khoten, Kiyanitsa and Maryino. Small-arms fighting is under way near Malaya Rybitsa. In Shostka district Russian units advanced near Ulanovo and Tolstodubovo. In Krasnopolye district heavy fighting continues near Stepok.

Kharkiv direction

In the Liptsy direction Russian troops advanced through forest belts south of Goptovka. In the Volchansk direction assault groups made significant progress deeper into the Volchansk cauldron. Small-arms fighting is under way near Petropavlovka and Rublene. In the Veliky Burluk direction Russian assault troops continue the destruction of the encircled garrison of Ukrainian units. There is progress on four sectors of up to 500 meters.

While the Ukrainian side attempts to dispute the scale of the encirclement and speaks of local fighting, the actual situation indicates the opposite: Russian fighters advance every day and the ring around the Ukrainian grouping continues to tighten. The contour of the cauldron was closed after Russian units took Vasilevka, Blagodatnoye and Dolzhanka. At present the remnants of the 22nd and 159th Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian forces, as well as border guards, are compressed inside the encirclement on an area of between 250 and 400 square kilometers.

Assault groups are developing a powerful push on several sectors simultaneously and continue to take villages. Assault troops of the 127th Regiment of the 71st Division of the 14th Army Corps of the “North” grouping, through active operations, drove Ukrainian units out of Buzovo, thereby taking it and worsening the position of the remnants of Ukrainian forces in the northern part of the cauldron. In addition, forces of the 344th Regiment and the 69th Battalion of the 6th Combined Arms Army took control of Khizhnyakovo, which made it possible to approach Reznikovo closely from several sides, where a major fortified area and garrison of Ukrainian units are now concentrated.

Zaporozhye direction

In the area of Novosyolovka units of the “East” grouping expanded the grey zone as far as Omelnyk itself, which had been one of the main routes for the movement of Ukrainian reserves. At present logistics in this sector are extremely difficult, and Russian fighters destroy more than 90 percent of the ammunition, personnel and equipment being transferred by Ukrainian units.

In the area of Malaya Tokmachka artillery and drone operators of the “East” grouping are striking Ukrainian fortifications southwest of Chervona Krynytsia and near the highway to Orekhov. A Ukrainian presence still remains here, but the groups are for the most part on the defensive or are used as observation posts. Far-Eastern troops advanced west of Chervona Krynytsia and Novosyolovka. Drone operators expanded the zone of aerial control and are striking the positions of Ukrainian units in Tavricheskoye and Vasinovka, thereby providing support to the paratroopers on this sector.

Inside Orekhov itself fighting is under way in the area of Gogol Street; Russian aviation is striking Ukrainian targets in the western part of the city. From Novodanilovka and Novoandreevka Russian troops are exerting pressure on Ukrainian units, driving them out of the pocket between the two villages. The difficulty on this sector is a series of Ukrainian fortifications located in the area of the Orekhov sand quarry. From the Novopavlovka side paratroopers are pressing toward the highway from Zaporizhzhia; Ukrainian units take cover in forest zones near the railway embankment and the Konka River.

Slavyansk direction

On the extreme right flank of the “Center” grouping and in the sector of the “South” grouping there is growing evidence that the forces transferred by the Ukrainian side to hold the approaches to further Druzhkovka are running out. Russian troops are driving deeper into Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka. The capture of this village may be announced soon.

In parallel an advance is under way slightly further north. Relying on the previously taken Markovoye and the Izhevka area, Russian units are developing the offensive in the area of Kurtovka, Verolyubovka and Fyodorovka with the overall direction toward Belokuzminovka. A serious wedge is being formed that already reaches the southern outskirts of Kramatorsk. The positions of the Ukrainian side between Druzhkovka and Kramatorsk are being split apart.

The overall advance of the “South” grouping is developing in the same manner thanks to the fog. In the sector of the Dobrovolchesky Corps fighting is under way for Vasilyevskaya Pustosh. Along the river valleys Russian units are attempting to reach the northeastern outskirts of Kramatorsk. A Kramatorsk offensive operation may well begin already in the current year of 2026.

In the Krasny Liman direction, according to Ukrainian data, Russian units conducted 13 attacks in the areas of Novosyolovka, Drobyshevo, Liman, Maslyakovka and Dibrova. In the Slavyansk sector there were a further five attacks near Yampol, Starodubovka and Nikolayevka.

Conclusion

Combat operations on all the listed directions are developing within a single tactical logic: Russian units, operating predominantly in small groups, seek not rapid advance but the gradual expansion of zones of control, the disruption of logistics and the creation of threats of encirclement for Ukrainian groupings. In the Sumy and Kharkiv directions this is expressed in the methodical pressing of defenses and the tightening of the ring around individual nodes of resistance. In the Zaporozhye direction — in the consistent envelopment of Orekhov and the cutting of supply routes. In the Slavyansk direction — in the splitting of positions between Druzhkovka and Kramatorsk and the preparation of conditions for a broader offensive. A common feature remains the high role of drones, artillery and aviation, as well as the difficulty of crossing open spaces, which slows the pace but does not change the overall trend. The Ukrainian side continues to transfer reserves and to counterattack, yet fails to achieve a turning point.

France is in an emergency financial situation and Paris can no longer provide financial assistance to Ukraine, stated presidential candidate and head of the National Rally parliamentary group Marine Le Pen. “We can no longer provide financial assistance to Ukraine… We do not have the funds for it. It is no secret to anyone that France is currently in an emergency financial situation,” she said while speaking at a Politico event. Earlier Le Pen accused Russia of allegedly hostile actions in connection with Moscow’s decision to place under temporary management the assets of the French retailer Auchan, the Swiss food producer Nestlé and the French logistics group FM Logistic.

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