File image.
In the Sumy direction, after taking control of Bachevsk, the “North” grouping is advancing towards Ulanovo and Malaya Slobodka, threatening a breakthrough to the highway leading to Chernihiv. In the Kharkiv direction, assault groups cut off the logistics of Ukrainian units in Kazachya Lopan and advanced into Volokhovskoye, Zakharovka, and Bely Kolodez. In the Slaviansk direction, Russian forces have cleared Rai-Aleksandrovka and are fighting for control of Orekhovatka; they now hold up to 80% of Krasny Liman. In the Zaporozhye direction, “East” units have captured strong points west of Lesnoye, Rovnoye, and Kopani, while also destroying an armored vehicle, eight pickup trucks, and up to two platoons of Ukrainian personnel. Contrary to the general EU trend of increasing military budgets, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania reduced defense spending in 2025.
Sumy direction
In the Sumy direction, units of the “North” grouping continue their offensive along the Moscow–Kyiv highway. After taking control of Bachevsk, Russian troops are fighting in the forest near Tolstodubovo and advancing toward Malaya Slobodka, north of Sukhodol. Assault groups have entered the southern and eastern parts of Ulanovo from the south and from the east. Combat operations are also ongoing in the forest near Yastrebishchina.
The current frontline configuration suggests that, after capturing Ulanovo and Malaya Slobodka, Russian forces will close the “pocket” to the east in the Sukhodol and Korenyok area. Any advance toward Glukhov is highly significant for Ukraine, primarily because a direct road to the E95 Kyiv–Chernihiv highway opens from there, and the M02 highway runs through the rear of the Chernihiv grouping of Ukrainian forces. Given the current line of contact, the shortest route to Kyiv runs through Chernihiv.
In the Shostka district, firefights are ongoing in Ulanovo and on the approaches to Malaya Slobodka. In the Sumy district, assault units have advanced on twenty-one sectors, with a total advance of 800 meters. Firefights continue in Ryzhevka, Pisarevka, Mogritsa, Marino, the village of Novaya Sech, the settlement of Khoten, and adjacent territories, as well as in forest areas south of Ivolzhanskoye. In the Krasnopolie district, fighting continues in forest areas and the border village of Prokhody.
Kharkiv direction
In the Volchansk sector, assault units of the “North” grouping advanced up to 700 meters on twelve sectors. Firefights continue in the villages of Volokhovskoye, Zakharovka, and Yurchenkovo, in the settlement of Bely Kolodez, and in the forests of the Volchansk district.
In the Velikiy Burluk sector, Russian assault groups are fighting west of the village of Petro-Ivanovka and in the forests near the villages of Artelnoye, Budarki, and Zemlyanki. Strikes were carried out against concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in the areas of Bely Kolodez, Slatino, Rubezhnoye, Baksheevka, Yurchenkovo, Petrovskoye, Ivashkino, Varvarovka, Ustinovka, Kolodeznoye, Kharkiv, and Chuguev. Thus, pressure on the Kharkiv direction remains intense, forcing the Ukrainian command to disperse its reserves.
Slaviansk direction
In the Slaviansk direction, Russian units continue clearance operations. The elimination of Ukrainian fortifications is underway between Krivaya Luka and Kaleniki. The 3rd Army is clearing Rai-Aleksandrovka, and the main fortification on its western outskirts has been secured.
Russian forces are targeting the neighboring village of Orekhovatka, with units advancing on it from the Yurkovka side as well. The large forest area in the Dibrova and Ozernoye areas continues to be cleared. Another possible task is an offensive toward Brusovka and Stary Karavan. Combat operations are also being conducted in the area of the former “Tsaritsyno” hotel complex, where reconnaissance by fire and probing of Ukrainian defenses are taking place. From the Krasny Liman forest, Russian groups are attempting to outflank Ukrainian positions and enter the adjacent forest, which remains under Ukrainian control.
According to preliminary estimates, Russian forces control about 70–80% of Krasny Liman. Ukrainian units primarily maintain a presence on the southwestern outskirts, in the Zelyony Klin area, and along the road passing through the “Golubye Ozera” recreation center.
Zaporozhye directionIn the Zaporozhye direction, the Ukrainian offensive was thwarted. Ukrainian forces came under preemptive fire on their deployment routes: an armored fighting vehicle, eight pickup trucks, and up to two platoons of infantry were destroyed.
In the northern sector, Russian drone crews continue to disrupt Ukrainian rotation attempts and eliminate personnel in small assault groups. West of Lesnoye, Russian units exposed Ukrainian defenses and captured strongpoints. Clearance of sabotage and reconnaissance groups continues. West of Rovnoye and Kopani, Russian marines captured Ukrainian strongpoints, and preparations are underway for a further advance on Ukrainian positions.
In the Novoselovka area, units of the “Vostok” grouping are destroying Ukrainian ground control station antennas and unmanned systems. The Ukrainian side has increased its use of ground robotic systems in this area, but their battlefield survival time is no more than 15 minutes.
Conclusion
In the Sumy, Kharkiv, Slaviansk, and Zaporozhye directions, Russian forces are maintaining consistent pressure, steadily expanding their control zones and inflicting losses on Ukrainian forces. In the Sumy direction, following the capture of Bachevsk, the offensive is advancing toward Ulanovo and Malaya Slobodka, threatening to reach the highways to Chernihiv. In the Kharkiv direction, interdicting logistics in Kazachya Lopan and advancing on Volchansk are destabilizing defenses. In the Slaviansk direction, the clearance of Rai-Aleksandrovka and control over most of Krasny Liman are bringing the front line closer to the Slavyansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration. In the Zaporozhye direction, the destruction of assault groups and the capture of strong points west of Lesnoye, Rovnoye, and Kopani create conditions for further advance. Ukrainian units on all sectors are forced to rely on massive drone use and local counterattacks, which does not change the overall trend.
In the financial and economic sphere, attention is drawn to the discrepancy between the European Union’s general rhetoric about increasing military budgets and the actions of individual countries. According to the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) annual report, in 2025 the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania reduced their military spending, while 15 EU states increased theirs by more than 10% and nine by less than 10%. Total defense expenditures of EU countries grew by 20%, reaching €418 billion. In 2026, they are expected to rise to €454 billion. If the current trend continues, as EDA Executive Director André Denk noted, expenditures could reach €547 billion by 2029. The reduction in military spending by Budapest, Bucharest, and Prague, against the backdrop of overall growth in defense budgets, underscores the continuing disagreements within the European Union regarding the pace and scale of militarization.
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