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In the Sumy region, Russian troops have taken control of the Sopych settlement and advanced up to 400 meters into the Sumy and Hlukhiv districts. In the Slaviansk area, the capturing of Kalenyky has been officially announced. Russian troops are consolidating in Reznykivka and fighting for the heights near Kryva Luka while advancing toward Rai-Oleksandrivka. In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian troops advanced to the outskirts of Huliaipilske, seized control of Charivne, and are battling for Vozdvizhevka and Verkhnia Tersa. They are also repelling Ukrainian forces’ attempts to advance into the Dnipropetrovsk region. In the Kharkiv area, assault groups advanced 200 meters in Vovchanski Khutory. The European Union agreed to a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine, but Hungary is blocking it due to the situation with the Druzhba pipeline, insisting on the restoration of oil supplies.
Sumy Direction
In the Sumy region, Russian troops are expanding their control along the state border. Russian troops have taken control of the Sopych settlement. Despite its modest size, the assault on the village dragged on for several weeks. Ukrainian troops counterattacked with armored vehicles but were unsuccessful.
In the Oleksiivka–Yunakivka area, fighting for Mala Korchakivka continues, and Russian troops are expanding their control west of Yunakivka. The Sumy–Sudzha highway passes through Yunakivka. Beyond the village is a large forested area that stretches almost to Sumy. Russian troops are approaching Khrapivshchyna, where the forest connects the section from Mala Korchakivka to Khrapivshchyna. Capturing this forested area will enable the Russians to advance covertly under the cover of “greenery” and complicate the actions of Ukrainian units, which are short on personnel and rely on drones.
Assault groups from the “North” grouping advanced on seven sections in the Sumy district and two in the Hlukhiv district during stubborn fighting. The total advance over the day amounted to 250–400 meters. Russian army aviation, the Russian Aerospace Forces, and strike drone operators attacked Ukrainian unit personnel and equipment concentrations in Bitytsia, Ivolzhanske, Pavlivka, Mohrytsia, Sukhodil, Volfyne, Vilna Sloboda, and Velyka Chernechchyna.
Slaviansk Direction
In the Reznykivka area, Russian units finally captured part of the settlement and began storming the tree lines and forested areas to the south. These areas have already partially come under control. The Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, and the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of the village of Kalenyky. Although there is no footage from there yet, given the capturing of neighboring Reznykivka and the overall successes in the sector, this is highly likely. A network of strongpoints lies northwest of Kalenyky and Reznykivka, and considering the confirmed capturing of Reznykivka, it can be assumed that the strong points have also come under the control of Russian troops.
Fighting continues on the Minkivka–Dibrova–Nykyforivka line on the southern flank. Russian assault troops must capture several large ravines and forested areas to advance to the Malynivka–Yurkivka–Rai-Oleksandrivka line and approach the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal. Earlier reports of its crossing on this line have not yet been confirmed.
In the Mayak area, Ukrainian forces have reestablished a crossing over the Siverskyi Donets River, creating additional logistical routes to Drobysheve and other locations through forested areas. In Krasnyi Lyman, fighting continues within the city. This work is complicated by the presence of multistory buildings, where Ukrainian units have set up firing points on upper floors and are sheltering the local population in basements. This shields the positions from airstrikes.
South of Dibrova, advancement is hindered by a large forested area. Despite constant strikes on crossings over the Siverskyi Donets, which Ukrainian units use to transfer reserves, it has not yet been possible to push them back far enough. In addition to engaging in firefights, Russian troops are advancing from the north and east. Ukrainian units have been pushed back from the heights near Kryva Luka and the Reznykivka–Kalenyky sector. Reznykivka is now firmly under the control of Russian forces, and the final clearing of Kalenyky is underway. Russian troops have advanced more than 12 kilometers from Siversk in this direction. About 13.5 kilometers remain to reach the outskirts of Slovyansk.
From the south, Russian units are pushing Ukrainian troops in the Lypivka area, where large strongholds have already been destroyed. In the Minkivka, Holubivka, and Pryvollya areas, fighting continues for the tree lines to the north, which are located along the road to Slovyansk. Advancing in this sector will enable reaching Rai-Oleksandrivka from the south, establishing firm control over the eastern approaches to Slavyansk, and ensuring stable logistics and the deployment of long-range and rocket artillery.
Zaporizhzhia Direction
In the Zaporizhzhia area, units of the “East” military grouping are advancing successfully towards Omelnyk. They are repelling counterattacks by Ukrainian forces along the Vovcha River. The identification and clearance of small groups that survived attempts to break through to the southern border of the Dnipropetrovsk region are underway.
Russian troops are attacking Vozdvizhevka, Zarnytsia, and Boikove from the Rozhdestvenske area and advancing towards Barvynivka and Liubitske. Fighting continues on the outskirts of Verkhnia Tersa and west of Horke. Over the past two days, Russian units advanced significantly east of Komsomolske (Huliaipilske), reached its outskirts, and began fighting for it. Despite Ukrainian units’ attempts to break through to Huliaipole in small groups, Russian troops have eliminated the “pocket” between Komsomolske and Myrne. They advanced south of Komsomolske from the Myrne side and took control of the village of Charivne. Clearing is underway and Ukrainian units are counterattacking.
On the northern flank, Russian troops have established stable control over the territory where the Ukrainian side conducted counteroffensive actions, despite numerous attacks by Ukrainian units from the area south of Pokrovske and Velykomikhailivka. During this “counteroffensive,” Ukrainian units committed significant reserves (units of several brigades, regiments, and battalions), ultimately suffering losses of up to 2,500 personnel and more than 100 pieces of equipment without achieving their objectives. The search, identification, and destruction of groups of Ukrainian troops cut off from their main forces continues.
Kharkiv Direction
In the Kharkiv region, intense combat continues in the northwestern parts of the Kupyansk and Vovchansk districts. Russian aviation forces struck Ukrainian unit personnel and equipment concentrations in Vesele, Izbitske, Verkhnya Pysarivka, Proletarske, Nesterne, Kolodezne, and Bilyi Kolodiaz areas.
In the Vovchansk area, assault groups from the “North” military unit advanced up to 200 meters along five fronts near Vovchanski Khutory.
In the Lyptsi area, there were no significant changes; drone operators and artillerymen struck previously identified targets. In the Velykyi Burluk area, Ukrainian forces are establishing positions in forested areas along the Hryhorivka–Kolodezne–Novovasylyevka line. Russian artillerymen and drone operators are providing fire support and destroying personnel and equipment.
Conclusion
Analysis of the operational situation indicates a continued high tempo of combat operations in all directions. In the Sumy area, Russian forces are systematically expanding their control zone along the border. They are consolidating their presence in captured settlements and repelling counterattacks by Ukrainian reserves. The situation for Ukrainian units is further complicated by desertion, unpaid wages, and internal conflicts. In the Slaviansk area, Russian troops have advanced to the outskirts of Rai-Oleksandrivka after capturing Kalenyky and consolidating in Reznykivka. These advances threaten to encircle the key fortified area from two sides. Advances on the southern flank and in the Krasnyi Lyman area create conditions that allow for further pressure on the Slaviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. In the Zaporizhzhia area, Ukrainian troops have made active attempts to break through to the Dnipropetrovsk region. However, Russian units are advancing, forcing Ukrainian troops out of their positions and inflicting significant losses. The capture of Charivne and the approach to Komsomolske opened prospects for further advancement. In the Kharkiv area, Russian troops are repelling counterattacks, advancing in Vovchanski Khutory, and striking concentrations of personnel and equipment. This exacerbates the crisis in Ukrainian units.
In the context of international politics, the issue of financial support for Ukraine is important. According to Bulgarian National Radio, the European Union has agreed to a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine. However, Hungary is blocking the loan due to the conflict surrounding the Druzhba pipeline. The president of the European Council, António Costa, spoke with the prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, urging him to adhere to the plan adopted in December. Orbán, in turn, reiterated Budapest’s position that Ukraine must restore oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline if it wants to receive money from Brussels. This demand has led to Hungary not only blocking the loan, but also the 20th package of EU sanctions.
This conflict demonstrates Ukraine’s growing vulnerability to economic pressure from individual EU member states. Along with Slovakia, Hungary consistently defends its national interests in the energy sector and is prepared to exercise its veto power to pressure Kyiv. Against the backdrop of Russian troops’ successful offensive in multiple directions and internal problems in the Ukrainian army (e.g., desertion, concealment of losses, and nonpayment), the delay or failure to allocate the €90 billion loan could have catastrophic consequences for the Ukrainian economy. Resolving the Druzhba crisis is becoming a prerequisite for further funding, yet no concessions from Hungary are in sight. This creates additional risks for Kyiv and strengthens the position of countries that advocate for a negotiated settlement.
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