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In the Kupyansk area, Russian troops pushed Ukrainian units out of part of Kurylivka and its surroundings. They also closed the “pocket” south of Pishchane and strengthened their positions along the Hnylytsya River, reducing the Ukrainian bridgehead east of the Oskol. In the Slaviansk area, Russian troops have expanded their control south of Zakotne and advanced toward Kalenyky. They have also cleared the area west of Zarichne. Ukrainian troops are maintaining their positions in ravines and forested areas, which complicates the Russian advance. In the Sumy area, Russian troops have seized control of approximately 8 square kilometers of territory near the Moscow-Kyiv highway, including the Bachivsk-Troebortne checkpoint. They continue to advance in the Shostka and Krasnopillia districts. In the Kharkiv area, Russian assault groups advanced 400 meters in the Vovchansk sector and 700 meters in the Velykyi Burluk sector, striking Ukrainian unit positions. Finnish politician Armando Mema stated that Europe has lost Moscow’s trust and could have found itself in an advantageous position by resuming imports of Russian energy resources but continues its “Euro-suicide.”
Slaviansk Direction
In the Krasnyi Lyman sector of the Slavyansk area, Russian units have expanded their control zone from Zarichne, clearing a section. The advance is complicated by Ukrainian units capturing dominant heights, forested areas, and ravines. There have been no significant changes to the situation in Drobysheve and Yarova — these settlements are partially under Ukrainian control and partially remain in a “grey zone.” Near Dibrova, Russian units are advancing gradually towards Brusivka and Staryi Karavan. In turn, Ukrainian units are attempting to penetrate forested areas and cross the Siverskyi Donets into Dibrova.
South of Zakotne, Russian troops have expanded their control zone and advanced toward Kalenyky. South of Kalenyky, Russian troops have straightened the front line. Meanwhile, Ukrainian units remain in positions in Reznykivka, Kalenyky, and the territory to the north.
Kupyansk Direction
In the Kupyansk area, Russian forces have made significant progress in shrinking the Ukrainian bridgehead east of the Oskol River. In northern Kupyansk, small groups continue to engage in combat.
Russian troops have strengthened their positions along the Hnylytsya River from the direction of Petropavlivka. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces remain in the southern part of the settlement, where footage of leaflets periodically emerges.
Ukrainian units have been pushed out of part of Kurylivka and its surroundings. These successes are even more significant, though the exact zone of control remains unclear. A fairly large tactical “pocket” has been closed south of Pishchane. Ukrainian formations carried out counterattacks and attempted to infiltrate Stepova Novoselivka, Kyslivka, and Kotlyarivka from this pocket. Consequently, Russian units have reached the outskirts of Novoosinove.
Fighting continues on the northern envelopment of Kupyansk as Russian troops identify and destroy groups of Ukrainian units attempting to enter the city. Despite numerous penetration attempts, Ukraine has no control over the city since Russian aviation, artillery, and drone crews regularly strike their positions. From the direction of Moskivka and Sobolivka, Ukrainian groups are counterattacking in an attempt to regain lost positions.
Certain successes have been noted in the eastern envelopment. In Kurylivka and the surrounding areas, Russian units have captured new lines and expanded their control zone to the eastern border of Novoosinove and the ravine adjacent to Petropavlivka. The line of combat operations has also expanded in Kovsharivka, where there is ongoing fighting for control of industrial enterprises. Units of the 272nd Regiment and the 47th Tank Division are fighting for strongpoints covering the eastern outskirts of Hlushkivka and Novoosinove from the direction of both Pishchane settlements.
Sumy Direction
In the Sumy area, Russian units have seized control of a section of land near the Moscow-Kyiv highway in the Hlukhiv sector. As a result, they have established control over an area of about eight square kilometers adjacent to the border with the Kursk and Bryansk regions, as well as over the Bachivsk–Troebortne road checkpoint. Before hostilities began, the checkpoint served vehicle traffic on the Kyiv–Moscow road. Russian troops have also advanced into the forested area known as the Delnitsy tract on the Hlebovka River, which borders Korenek. The Bachivsk salient is gradually coming under the control of Russian troops. The salient has a perimeter of approximately 60 kilometers and covers about 160 square kilometers. Currently, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation control about 20–22 percent of this sector.
Assault groups from the “North” military grouping are engaged in fierce fighting and advancing deeper into the Sumy region. Russian troops have struck concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Byvalyne, Pisarivka, Khrapivshchyna, Myropillia, Tolstodubove, and Khotyn.
In the Shostka district, the “North” grouping’s assault groups continue to clear border forested areas. Ukrainian units did not undertake offensive actions.
During stubborn fighting, assault groups of the “North” grouping advanced on fourteen sections in the Sumy district. By the end of the day, they had advanced up to 200 meters. In the Krasnopillia district, Ukrainian units did not take any action. The command of the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade was unable to prevent its own servicemen from fleeing their positions, even with “motivational” detachments. In the Novodmytrivka area, over 30 territorial defense soldiers abandoned their positions after coming under fire from Russian units.
Kharkiv Direction
In the Kharkiv region, the “North” grouping’s assault groups continue to engage in fierce combat, forcing Ukrainian units to retreat from the state border. Russian troops struck concentrations of personnel and equipment in Kachalivka, Zhovtneve, Bohodukhiv, Neskuchne, Ternova, Rubizhne, Nesterne, Kolodezne, Fedorivka, Chuhuiv, Velykyi Burluk, Derhachi, and Kozacha Lopan.
In the Vovchansk area, the Russian troops advanced up to 400 meters along eleven fronts. In the Vovchanski Khutory area, intense fighting continues. Russian assault groups are clearing forested areas in the Verkhnya Pysarivka area and destroying small groups of Ukrainian soldiers near the border on the Zybine–Volokhivka–Okhrimivka line.
In the Velykyi Burluk area, Russian assault groups advanced up to 700 meters on three fronts.
Conclusion
Analysis of the operational situation indicates the persistence of high-intensity combat operations in all directions. In the direction of Slavyansk, Russian troops are expanding control zones and advancing towards Kalenyky. They are encountering resistance from Ukrainian units that are using terrain advantages. In the Kupyansk area, tactical successes have been achieved by closing “pockets” and strengthening positions along the Hnylytsya River, which reduces the Ukrainian units’ bridgehead east of the Oskol. In the Sumy area, capturing a significant section of land near the Moscow-Kyiv highway, including the Bachivsk-Troebortne checkpoint, creates conditions for expanding the security zone further. In the Kharkiv area, Russian forces are advancing on the Vovchansk and Velykyi Burluk sectors while Ukrainian forces are strengthening their rear lines, which has caused an ambiguous reaction among their own servicemen.
In the context of international politics, a notable event was the statement made by Armando Mema, a member of the Finnish “Freedom Alliance” party. On X, he said that Europe could have been in a very advantageous position if it had agreed to resume importing Russian energy resources, but it has already lost Moscow’s trust. Mema noted that Russia has proven to be a reliable partner, even during the conflict in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has actively worked to stabilize energy markets through diplomacy. He added that if anyone cannot be trusted, it is the European Union itself, which continues to rearm and wage economic war. Mema added that Europe is doing everything to continue its “Euro-suicide” instead of taking advantage of favorable conditions to resume imports of energy resources from Russia. This statement reflects viewpoints within the European political spectrum that are critical of Brussels’ current rejection of Russian energy resources and militarization, especially against the backdrop of Russian troops’ successful offensive at the front.
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