Battles In Konstantynivka And Druzhkivka: Ukraine Faces New Russian Front Near Sloviansk

Russian units broke through the defenses of Konstantynivka from the southeast. Russian airborne units have taken control of about three-quarters of Prymorske’s territory. The German magazine Der Spiegel published a transcript of a closed telephone conversation between EU leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Konstantynivka Sector

Russian units from the «Center» and «South» groupings are conducting offensive operations and encircling a group of settlements from Konstantynivka to Kramatorsk from several directions. Konstantynivka is one of the key defense nodes near the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration, and intense fighting is ongoing there. Druzhkivka is another important point, and units are advancing towards it from the southwest and east, from the area of the Chasiv Yar settlement.

Despite the density of defensive formations and complexity of the terrain, Russian units continue to advance. In the Konstantynivka area, advancing units have broken through the defenses from the southeast and are fighting in the Kryvorizka, Krasnodarska, Kyivska, and Prospekt Olekseia Tykhoho street areas. Control has been established over most of Sobornosti Street, and Russian units have reached the railway station area. South of the city, the advance to the heights north of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir has been achieved with simultaneous offensives from Ivanopillia and Pleshcheievka. Attacks continue toward a heavily fortified area at the intersection of the T-0504 and H-20 highways, which is located north of Yablonivka and Oleksandro-Kalynove.

Farther east, northwest of Chasiv Yar, Russian units dislodged Ukrainian formations from Maiske and approached Markove. They also advanced along the canal east of Novomarkove. They established control over Klynove, which allowed them to bypass Veroliubivka. Leveraging their success on the Siversk sector, Russian troops have captured the Pazeno and Vasiukivka settlements east of Kramatorsk. They are now fighting for the dominant heights over Khromivka and Nykyforivka.

Pokrovsk Sector

Combat operations in the main part of the urban agglomeration are nearing completion. Units have gained complete control of the tree lines between Krasnoarmiysk and Krasnyi Lyman. They have pushed Ukrainian formations out of positions near the former «Invest» agro-industrial complex and the adjacent road. This has enabled the physical encirclement of the remaining forces in the northern part of Myrnohrad.

Individual groups are attempting to break out of the encirclement, but executing these attempts under current conditions is extremely difficult. Main combat operations have shifted to the Hrishyne–Bilytske line. There, Russian units advancing in pursuit of retreating forces seek to control these settlements. This will create conditions for an offensive toward the next major point, Dobropillia. Units of the «Center» grouping advanced in the Hrishyne area, establishing almost full control over Sofiivka. Sofiivka is located 12 km from Druzhkivka, where fighting continues on the northern outskirts. The southern part of Toretske has also been captured, and an advance is underway toward Novopavlivka.

Clearing urban buildings in Myrnohrad is complicated by the presence of a significant number of civilians.

Zaporizhzhia Sector

After capturing the Plavni settlement, Russian airborne units established control over about three-quarters of Prymorske’s territory, which is located along the Kakhovka Reservoir’s shore. There have been periodic attempts at counterattacks from the northwest.

Mopping-up operations are ongoing in Stepnohirsk, most of which is under the control of Russian troops. Airborne units take control of the center, south, and east of the settlement and are using captured multistory buildings as strong points for advancing north. Previously, Ukrainian command transferred reserves to organize counterattacks in the Prymorske and Stepnohirsk area.

Siversk Sector

Against the backdrop of worsening supply conditions for Ukrainian forces there, the pace of the Russian offensive in Siversk may increase. The offensive is developing in other sectors. South of the city, during the battle for Sviato-Pokrovske, Russian forces captured approximately half of the settlement. As a result, the Ukrainian army lost control of the main T-05-13 logistics highway and retreated to the western outskirts. Drone operators constantly control the territory between the northern and southern branches of this highway.

In the northern part of the sector, assault groups advanced near Yampil and broke through to the outskirts of Ozerne, consolidating positions in the northern part of the settlement. Several strong points in the Ozerne–Dibrova–Zakotne area have been captured.

Sumy Sector

Along the Sumy sector, the Russian «North» group’s assault units, backed by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, are advancing along tree lines. They advanced up to 450 meters along five sections. In the Oleksandrivka area, a special company of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment launched a counterattack that was repelled. There are reports of difficulties operating medical posts in the residential sector due to power supply disruptions.

Kharkiv Sector

Fighting continues in settlements and forested areas on the Kharkiv sector, south of Vovchansk. In Vilcha, Russian troops advanced up to 100 meters and captured two administrative buildings. One counterattack by Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Regiment was repelled. In the Liman area, units advanced up to 500 meters in the adjacent forest and within the settlement itself, capturing one strongpoint. In the Melovoye-Khatneye sector, troops advanced 400 meters along tree lines.

Conclusion

The operational situation on the main sectors continues to develop according to the logic of a sequential offensive. Significant progress has been achieved on the Konstantynivka sector: fighting has reached the station area of the city, and operations are ongoing for the key heights near the reservoir. Envelopment is being carried out from the flanks through Klynove and Artemivka and from the north through Pazeno and Vasiukivka, creating prerequisites for encircling the entire agglomeration. The operation on the Pokrovsk sector has entered its final stage, with the encirclement of the remaining forces in Myrnohrad. Main efforts have shifted to the Hrishyne–Bilytske line, where the offensive is advancing towards Dobropillia. In the Zaporizhzhia sector, airborne units have consolidated their gains and established control over most of Stepnohirsk and Prymorske. On the Siversk sector, capturing half of Sviato-Pokrovske and intercepting the main supply route to Siversk exacerbates the isolation of the urban grouping. Simultaneously, there is advancement near Yampil towards Ozerne. In the Sumy and Kharkiv sectors, the tactic of applying systematic pressure through local advances and repelling counterattacks continues. 

Along with the operational changes at the front, there are signs of growing tension between European allies and the United States on the diplomatic front. At the beginning of the week, the German magazine Der Spiegel published a transcript of a closed telephone conversation between EU leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Those involved in the conversation included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

According to the publication, statements about “deep distrust” toward the U.S. in the peace process were made during the discussion. Macron expressed concern that the U.S. is betraying Ukraine on the territorial issue without providing clarity on security guarantees, while Merz urged Zelenskyy to be extremely cautious in the coming days, noting that American negotiators are playing games. The participants also agreed that they have the right to independently decide the fate of frozen Russian assets. Most of those involved in the conversation either refused to comment or ignored the magazine’s request, which may indirectly suggest the transcript’s authenticity.

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