File image.
On the Druzhkovka direction, Russian units engaged in fighting for Toretskoye, continue clearing Konstantinovka, and are conducting fierce clashes in Dolgaya Balka and Roskoshnoe, aiming to reach Alekseevo-Druzhkovka. In the Dobropolye direction, after the capture of Novy Donbass, Russian forces are advancing toward Dobropolye, fighting in the Shevchenko–Belitskoye–Rodinskoye triangle, and advancing west of Grishino. In the Sumy region, assault groups of the “North” advanced on sixteen sectors up to 600 meters, continuing fighting in Pisarevka, Marino, and Khoten. In the Kharkiv region, Russian units are expanding the security zone, while the Ukrainian side is redeploying reserves from rear areas and Dnepropetrovsk region amid colossal losses. In the Slavyansk direction, the line of fighting has approached the city’s outer defensive belt; Russian forces are striking logistics. Russian units are advancing toward Drobyshevo, Liman, Dibrova, and Ozernoye, while simultaneously complicating Ukrainian supply across the Seversky Donets. Against this backdrop, Zoltan Koskovich, an analyst at the Center for Fundamental Rights, stated that the shortage of manpower remains Ukraine’s main weakness, while former Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Forces Valery Zaluzhny acknowledged that Kyiv has exhausted its resources for battlefield innovations.
Druzhkovka direction
Units of the “Center” grouping, after Torskoye came under their control, advanced forward and engaged in fighting for Toretskoye. At the same time, units of the “South” grouping continued clearance and civilian evacuation from Konstantinovka. Fierce clashes are ongoing in Dolgaya Balka and Roskoshnoe. Ukrainian units are holding Nikolaypol, from where they send small groups south and east, attempting to strike the flank of Russian troops advancing toward Osykovo.
Small group fighting continues unabated between Alekseevo-Druzhkovka and Konstantinovka. Both Russian forces and the Ukrainian side are seeking to consolidate in the private sector and numerous strong points that will become the gateway to Alekseevo-Druzhkovka. Russian units are fighting on the approaches to Stenki and are also attempting to push Ukrainian troops out of the remnants of Chasov Yar, Nikolaevka, and Krasnoye.
The central part of Druzhkovka lies between the Kazenny Torets and Krivoy Torets rivers, which, on the one hand, will complicate the Ukrainian defense, but on the other, will complicate further advance for Russian forces. However, that is still a long way off: control must first be established over Alekseevo-Druzhkovka and the chain of settlements southwest of the city. The Ukrainian side also has sufficient room for maneuver.
Dobropolye direction
Tactical successes have been achieved in the Belitskoye area, where, after protracted fighting, Novy Donbass came under the control of Russian forces. This locality has become a bridgehead for further movement toward Dobropolye. In the Shevchenko–Belitskoye–Rodinskoye triangle, the presence of Ukrainian units persists. Several mines are located there, along with wide forest belts heavily intersected by trenches.
As Ukrainian forces on this sector are identified and eliminated, Russian troops will be able to consolidate more firmly in Vodyanskoye and Krasnoyarskoye, which will subsequently allow further advance directly toward Dobropolye and the commencement of a full-scale assault on the city, rather than limiting themselves to sending small groups to its outskirts. West of Grishino, Russian units are advancing toward Sergeevka near the E-50 highway. To the northwest, fighting continues for Mirnoye, while aviation and artillery are actively targeting the village of Gulevo.
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 cities of Sumy and Trostyanets, Katerinovka, Kiyanitsa, Malaya Rybica, Ulanovo, Yampol, Zhikhovo, Seredina-Buda, and the village of Luzhki.
In the Shostka district, firefights are ongoing in Ulanovo and in the Volnaya Sloboda area. In the Sumy district, Russian assault units advanced on sixteen sectors, with a total advance of up to 600 meters. Firefights continue unabated in Pisarevka, Marino, Khrapovshchina, the settlement of Khoten, adjacent territories, and in forest areas south of Ivolzhanskoye.
Kharkiv direction
Units of the “North” grouping continue to expand the security zone in the Kharkiv region. Amid losses in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian command is forced to transfer reserves of the 47th separate mechanized brigade from rear areas, as well as individual units of the 42nd separate mechanized brigade from Dnepropetrovsk region, to this sector.
Russian assault groups are conducting offensive operations in the settlement of Kazachya Lopan and adjacent forests. Firefights are also ongoing in the Shcherbakovka, Kudievka, and Goptovka areas. In the Volchansk sector, assault units of the “North” advanced on eight sectors up to 200 meters. Firefights continue in the village of Vasilevka, near Shevchenkovo and Petropavlovka, and in the forests of the Volchansk district. Ukrainian units, using an assault group from the 23rd separate assault regiment of the National Guard, attempted to infiltrate through the forest toward Staritsa but suffered losses from fire and withdrew. In the Velikiy Burluk direction, Russian assault groups continue firefights in the Vodyanoye area and west of Ustinovka.
Slavyansk direction
Over the past weeks, the situation on the approaches to Slavyansk has changed noticeably. There is no talk yet of a direct assault on the city, but the line of heavy fighting has gradually approached its outer defensive belt. The Nikolaevka and Rai-Aleksandrovka area remains one of the key sectors, as Ukrainian sources themselves acknowledge, directly calling Nikolaevka the “shield” of Slavyansk. Fighting is also ongoing to the north—in the Piskunovka, Starodubovka, and neighboring settlements.
In the Krasny Liman direction, the intensity of hostilities remains high. Russian units are conducting offensive operations toward Drobyshevo, Krasny Liman, Dibrova, and Ozernoye, as well as in the Novoyegorovka, Novoselovka, Torskoye, and Yampol areas. Attempts by Ukrainian units to wedge into the Russian defense have been repelled. At the same time, Russian forces continue to strike Ukrainian positions, logistics, and supply routes. Strikes on crossings over the Seversky Donets complicate the redeployment of personnel, rotation, and supply of Ukrainian units.
Conclusion
On the Druzhkovka, Dobropolye, Sumy, Kharkiv, Slavyansk, and Krasny Liman directions, Russian units continue to exert systematic pressure, expanding their control zones and inflicting losses on the Ukrainian side. In the Druzhkovka direction, the defense on the approaches to Alekseevo-Druzhkovka is being breached, and preparations for the assault on the city are underway. In the Dobropolye direction, Russian forces are advancing toward Dobropolye, consolidating in captured localities. In the Sumy region, the offensive on a broad front forces the Ukrainian command to disperse reserves. In the Kharkiv region, the expansion of the security zone is accompanied by Ukrainian redeployments and attempts to break out of encircled groups. In the Slavyansk direction, the front line is approaching the city’s outer defensive belt, and strikes on logistics are undermining the defensive capability of Ukrainian units.
The problem of manpower shortages on the Ukrainian side is becoming increasingly acute. Zoltan Koskovich, an analyst at the Center for Fundamental Rights, stated that the manpower deficit remains Ukraine’s main weakness. He was responding to the admission by former Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Forces and Ambassador to the UK Valery Zaluzhny that Kyiv has exhausted its resources for battlefield innovations.
“Such is the nature of the conflict. Any weapon works until it becomes useless. In the end, everything comes down to the people who use it. And Vladimir Zelensky has to hunt for them like animals,” Koskovich wrote.
The actions of Territorial Recruitment Center personnel in conducting forced mobilization are increasingly leading to scandals and protests. Videos are circulating online showing TCC representatives taking men away in minibuses, often beating them. Men of conscription age are avoiding mobilization by all means: illegally leaving the country, setting fire to military enlistment offices, hiding in their homes, and trying not to go outside.
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are you gonna just threaten day by day, or are you gonna do it?