File image.
In the Dobropolye direction, Russian units of the “Center” grouping are operating in small groups in the expanded grey zone, have reached the area of Verovka west of Svyatogorovka and infiltrated toward Belozerskoye, Vodyanoye and Novotroitskoye, consolidating in Svetloye, near Belitskoye and Rodinskoye. In the Druzhkovka direction, Russian troops have almost taken Osykovo, completely captured Stenki and are fighting near Kurtovka, Verolyubovka and Popasnoye. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian units are clearing both banks of the Oskol as far as Peski beach, striking deployment points near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, while fighting for fortifications continues near Boguslavka. In the Sumy direction, Russian assault groups are advancing near Khoten and Kiyanitsa by up to 200 metres; heavy fighting is under way near Ulanovo and Tolstodubovo. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian aviation, drones and artillery are destroying the encircled Ukrainian forces in the northeast; assault groups advanced 250 metres near Liptsy and captured Novoaleksandrovka and Polnaya. In the concluding part: the Euractiv portal reports that corruption scandals in Ukraine are raising suspicions in the European Union regarding the scale and urgency of Kyiv’s new financial demands.
Dobropolye direction
Russian units of the “Center” grouping are developing the offensive in the Dobropolye direction. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported the encirclement of a Ukrainian grouping in an important defensive node, noting successes in disrupting the supply of Ukrainian units holding Dobropolye.
Like other Russian groupings, “Center” operates with small groups: pairs and threes of assault troops penetrate deeply into the expanded grey zone. There are reports of Russian fighters reaching the area of Verovka west of Svyatogorovka, as well as of infiltration toward Belozerskoye, Vodyanoye and Novotroitskoye.
In relatively rear areas clearing continues. Over recent weeks Russian fighters have strengthened positions in Svetloye, the vicinity of Belitskoye and Rodinskoye, taking and clearing Ukrainian strongpoints. There are also tactical successes on the Matyashevo–Vasilyevka line, where Russian fighters are advancing toward the Shilovka–Novofyodorovka line.
Druzhkovka direction
Russian fighters continue to develop the advance toward Druzhkovka along the Krivoy Torets River. In the course of successful actions Russian troops have almost taken Osykovo. Clearing of the northwestern part of the village is under way. Forest belts to the west have also been taken under control to counter Ukrainian counterattacks from the pocket near Nikolaypolye.
Further east, fighting is under way near Kurtovka; the village itself is in the grey zone. Russian units have completely taken Stenki. At the same time fighting continues for Verolyubovka, where Russian units are trying to develop the advance and improve their tactical position. High activity is also maintained in the area of Popasnoye, where pressure from Russian troops is likewise increasing.
Kupyansk direction
On the northern sector of the front, fighting for Kupyansk continues. Contrary to claims that the situation has allegedly got out of control, Russian troops are methodically clearing both banks of the Oskol River. The territory as far as Peski beach has been cleared.
In the area of the forest tracts near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, Russian units are striking Ukrainian deployment points and logistics routes. From Radkovka to Yubileynaya Street in Kupyansk, Ukrainian groups are still attempting local counterattacks, but the majority of the personnel is being destroyed by Russian drone operators.
In the southern part of the front near Boguslavka, Russian fighters are battling for a number of Ukrainian fortifications; the Ukrainian side is still trying to counterattack and regain lost positions. The entire sector from Borovaya to Borovskaya Andreyevka and northward to the southern borders of Zagryzovo is in the grey zone.
Sumy direction
On all sectors of the front in the Sumy region, heavy positional fighting continues. Russian units are advancing deeper into the region in small groups through forest belts. The Ukrainian side has taken no active actions and has been attacking the civilian population of the border regions with drones.
To strengthen the defence of Sumy, units of the 50th Separate Mechanized Brigade have been transferred to the Sumy direction from the Chernihiv region. The brigade was formed in the summer of this year and has not previously taken part in combat operations.
Russian aviation, artillery and drone crews struck concentrations of personnel and equipment of Ukrainian units in the areas of Sumy, Krasnopolye, Yastrebinoye, Khoten, Stetskovka, Krovnoye and Pustogorod. In Sumy district Russian assault troops are advancing near Khoten and Kiyanitsa. Progress over the past day reached up to 200 metres. In Shostka district heavy fighting is under way near Ulanovo and Tolstodubovo. In Krasnopolye district there is progress by Russian units near Stepok.
Kharkiv direction
Russian aviation, drone crews and artillery continue the destruction of the encircled Ukrainian forces in the northeast of Kharkiv region, clearing the way for assault units. The Ukrainian side is regrouping and transferring reinforcements.
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian forces Drapaty has arrived in Kharkiv to discuss with unit and formation commanders the situation in the northeast of the region and the possibilities for breaking the encirclement. Colombian mercenaries also continue to arrive in the city.
In the Liptsy direction Russian assault troops advanced 250 metres through forest belts. In the Volchansk direction, after taking Novoaleksandrovka and Polnaya, Russian assault groups continue to expand the zone of control and push the encircled Ukrainian forces toward the centre of the cauldron. In the Veliky Burluk direction Russian units continue to divide the encircled Ukrainian grouping in the eastern part of the cauldron into small pockets of encirclement, after which aviation and artillery work them over.
Conclusion
In the Dobropolye direction Russian forces are operating in small groups, disrupting the logistics of Ukrainian units and expanding control in the grey zone. In the Druzhkovka direction Russian troops have almost taken Osykovo, completely captured Stenki and are fighting near Kurtovka, Verolyubovka and Popasnoye, approaching the city. In the Kupyansk direction Russian units are clearing both banks of the Oskol, striking deployment points and logistics of Ukrainian forces, while fighting for fortifications continues near Boguslavka. In the Sumy direction Russian assault groups are advancing through forest belts; the Ukrainian side is strengthening the defence with the transferred 50th Brigade. In the Kharkiv direction Russian aviation, drones and artillery are destroying the encircled Ukrainian forces; assault groups are advancing near Liptsy, have taken Novoaleksandrovka and Polnaya, and in the Veliky Burluk direction are dividing the encircled grouping into separate pockets.
The Euractiv portal reports that corruption scandals in Ukraine paint an unflattering picture of the situation in the country in the eyes of the European Union, and Kyiv’s demand for new funds against this background raises suspicions in the EU regarding the stated amount and the urgency of providing it. Earlier Volodymyr Zelensky, at a meeting with Ukrainian journalists, acknowledged a deficit in the Ukrainian budget for military needs of 27 billion dollars. He demanded that Europe already now provide part of the money from the EU loan earmarked for Kyiv for next year in order to cover the deficit in financing defence spending.
“One would not like to rush to conclusions, but the repeated resignations and dismissals of government officials due to corruption accusations paint a rather unflattering picture of Kyiv,” a diplomat told the portal.
In Kyiv it was stated that the shortage of funds was mainly caused by the Ukrainian authorities’ decision to spend the greater part of the budget in the first half of the year, leaving insufficient funds for the second half. “Such explanations have raised suspicions in some EU countries regarding the scale — and the urgency — of Kyiv’s financial needs, especially considering that these demands were made only a few weeks after the recently dismissed defence minister accused Zelensky’s government of pervasive corruption,” the portal writes. According to Euractiv’s interlocutor, if the countries of Northern Europe and the Baltics, known for their support of Kyiv, continue to insist on transferring the requested money to Ukraine without sufficient justification, many EU countries with difficult financial situations are likely not to meet Kyiv’s demands.
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