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Russian forces have made tangible gains across multiple sectors of the frontline. On the Kharkiv axis, assault groups of the 126th Motorized Rifle Regiment captured Zakhárovka, expanding the security zone and closing in on Bely Kolodez. Heavy urban fighting continues in Kupyansk, where Russian units are tightening their grip north of the city while beating back Ukrainian counterattacks. In the Sumy direction, Russian forces advanced up to 500 meters in 21 sectors, fighting in Ulanovo, Malaya Slobodka, Pisarevka, and Novaya Sech. In the Slaviansk area, fighting continues in Nikolaevka and Krasny Liman, with Ukrainian forces still holding the northwestern part of the latter. Armando Mema, a Finnish politician, condemned the new EU sanctions package, stating that such policies run counter to Europe’s interests and lead to the impoverishment of the European economy.
Sumy direction
Assault groups from the “North” military grouping advanced deeper into the Sumy direction. They carried out strikes against concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in several areas of Sumy and its surroundings. In the Shostka district, there are ongoing firefights in Ulanovo and Malaya Slobodka. In the Sumy district, Russian assault units advanced into twenty-one sectors, advancing up to 500 meters in total.
Unabated fighting continues in Ryzhevka, Pisarevka, Mogritsa, Marino, Novaya Sech village, Khoten settlement, and adjacent territories. Fighting also continues in forest areas south of Ivolzhanskoye. In the Krasnopolie district, fighting continues in forest areas and in the border village of Prokhody. This broad offensive is forcing the Ukrainian command to disperse its reserves and fight on several fronts simultaneously.
Kharkiv direction
Starting in the early morning hours, Russian armored vehicles, backed by air support, advanced from Volchansk into Ukrainian defensive positions. The 126th Motorized Rifle Regiment pushed the Ukrainian garrison out of Zakhárovka, a settlement in the Volchansk district, and established control over it. Capturing Zakhárovka expands the security zone along the Belgorod direction border and brings “North” units closer to Yurchenkovo and Bely Kolodez. The Ukrainian side has built a supply line for the Volchansk district along these locations.
Assault groups from the “North” military grouping continued to expand the security zone in the Kharkiv direction. They are conducting offensive operations in the Kazachya Lopan settlement and adjacent forests. Russian aviation struck Ukrainian reserves in Karasevka and Sosnovka, destroying assault groups from the 475th Separate Assault Regiment.
In the Volchansk sector, the “North” assault units advanced up to 700 meters on twelve segments. In the direction of Velikiy Burluk, Russian assault groups are engaged in firefights to the west of Petro Ivanovka and in the Ustinovka area. The pressure along the entire front is increasing and threatening several Ukrainian defense strongpoints.
Kupyansk direction
Russian units continued operations in the central part of Kupyansk on the right bank of the Oskol River and repelled Ukrainian counterattacks from the northwest. Various reports assessed the Yubileyny microdistrict as a gray zone or an area with Ukrainian presence. There was a reported expansion of pressure from Kondrashovka toward Radkovka and Tishchenkovka.
On the left bank, Ukrainian sources acknowledged the deteriorating situation in the Petropavlovka, Peschany, Kurilovka, and Kovsharovka areas. The gray zone is expanding, and the Ukrainian bridgehead is shrinking. Meanwhile, counterattacks and clearance of areas previously declared secure continued. The fiercest clashes persist on the western outskirts of Kupyansk, where Ukrainian units counterattack from Sobolevka and Moskovka, trying to contain the Russian advance.
Along the eastern bank of the Oskol River, hostilities remain positional. Clashes persist in Petropavlovka, Peschany, Kurilovka, and Kovsharovka. In the Kupyansk area, Russian units are systematically expanding their control zone while Ukrainian forces attempt to counterattack and regain lost ground.
Slaviansk direction
Russian units continued operations in the areas around Malinovka, Rai, Aleksandrovka, Tikhonovka, Piskunovka, Starodubovka, and Nikolaevka. In some sectors, the line of contact resembles a “layer cake.” Positions of both sides remain in forest belts, along the Seversky Donets–Donbas canal, and within bypass gray zones. Reports have emerged online that Russian units have entered Nikolaevka and are operating on its outskirts.
This information is based primarily on Ukrainian sources and requires independent confirmation. In Krasny Liman, part of the Slavyansk direction, Russian units predominantly capturing the central, eastern, and southern built-up areas. Ukrainian groups remain in the north, northwest, and certain central quarters, as well as the Zelyony Klin area. The Ukrainian command continues to supply its units via drones and ground robotic systems. Russian units are striking supply routes in the Shchurovo and Raygorodka areas and at crossings over the Seversky Donets. They are also striking positions on the southern outskirts of the city. Logistics are severely complicated, but supply has not yet been completely halted.
In the Stavki–Zarechnoye sector, Ukrainian units were reportedly pushed back beyond one of the ravines, though scattered groups remain near the western outskirts of Zarechnoye and in the Stavki area. To the south, fighting continues near Dibrova and Ozernoye. Thus, the Slaviansk direction remains a theater of tense positional warfare, with Russian units gradually expanding their control zone.
Conclusion
In the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kupyansk, and Slavyansk directions, Russian forces are systematically expanding their control zones and inflicting losses on Ukrainian troops. In the Sumy direction, the broad-front offensive is forcing the Ukrainian command to disperse its reserves. In the Kharkiv direction, the capture of Zakhárovka and the advance toward Bely Kolodez endanger critical defensive positions. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces are gradually pushing Ukrainian units out of the city despite their counterattacks. In the Slaviansk direction, heavy fighting continues over forest belts and settlements, and Ukrainian logistics are being systematically disrupted.
In the European political sphere, there is growing criticism of Brussels’ sanctions policy. On the social media platform X, Finnish politician and member of the “Freedom Alliance” party Armando Mema strongly condemned the latest EU sanctions package against Russia. “The EU has once again imposed sanctions on Russia. It’s clear that the European Commission has no intention of restoring dialogue with Moscow. On the contrary, it seeks escalation by continuing to impose economic sanctions and provide Ukraine with €90 billion in military aid. We can no longer hide the fact that such policies run counter to Europe’s interests,” he wrote.
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