Dnepropetrovsk Breakthrough: Russian Forces Level The Front Along Two Rivers

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Russian units continue offensive operations on several operational fronts. In the Dnipro direction, the 36th Guards Brigade’s assault groups captured Pisantsy, consolidating the line along the Volchya River. In the Zaporozhye area, the 38th Brigade’s guardsmen established control over Novoselovka, threatening to encircle Malaya Tokmachka and Orekhov. In the Sumy direction, the “North” assault forces advanced in 19 sectors and struck Ukrainian unit positions. In the Kharkiv direction, fighting continues in Kazachya Lopan and Petro-Ivanovka. On the Slavyansk front, Russian forces are advancing in Rai-Aleksandrovka. Political backdrop: Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Ukrainian side had proposed a mutual cessation of strikes deep into their territory and a restriction of combat operations to the Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, and Luhansk directions only.

Slaviansk direction

Firefights continue in the Rai-Aleksandrovka area. Starting from the outskirts, Russian assault groups are clearing the central part of remaining Ukrainian troops. In the Lipovka area, Russian units improved their positions by capturing adjacent forest areas and belts after fighting. In some sectors, troops engaged in combat with isolated Ukrainian groups. From Yurkovka, Russian forces are advancing in small groups to cut off the routes leading to Rai-Aleksandrovka and Orekhovatka. Targets in Nikolaevka were hit with a combined attack using Geran drones and high-explosive aviation bombs with universal planning and correction modules. Successful clearance of the Lipovka area, advancement from Yurkovka, and combat in Rai-Aleksandrovka will significantly improve the tactical position and facilitate the future offensive toward Orekhovatka. Due to the active presence of Russian drones and aviation against other Ukrainian forces’ positions, the development of a further offensive can be anticipated.

Zaporozhye direction

The “Vostok” group of forces has advanced again in the direction of Zaporozhye. The guardsmen of the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade successfully took Novoselovka. Fighting for this locality began almost immediately after control of Gulyaypolskoye was established. Ukrainian units put up fierce resistance, often counterattacking through strongpoints to the north. Recently, footage of one such episode appeared in the public domain: a group of Ukrainian troops attempting to raise a flag was eliminated on the northern outskirts of Gulyaypolskoye. From Novoselovka, the road opens to the west towards Egorovka and Omelnik. These two locations are close together, which allows for further advance under the cover of buildings. The Ukrainian command is aware of the emerging threat of an enveloping attack on Malaya Tokmachka and, in the future, on Orekhov from the north. Therefore, a series of counterattacks by mechanized assault groups should be expected, as well as an increase in the number of sabotage groups attempting to infiltrate the area north and south of the emerging wedge. Russian units must solve two tactical problems simultaneously: they must advance further and conduct assault operations while rechecking already captured territories since the Ukrainian side continues to send small groups to divert attention and slow the advance. The southern sector of the Zaporozhye area is particularly challenging. First, Russian forces are advancing across the Orekhov defensive belt, which endangers the Ukrainian defense. Second, there are a significant number of pre-prepared strongpoints and dugouts in this area that can be used by both sides.

Dnepropetrovsk direction

The “Vostok” force continues to advance along the Volchya River. The 36th Guards Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade’s assault units captured Pisantsy. This success furthers efforts to strengthen the line along the Gaychur and Volchya rivers. These efforts are aimed at leveling the front and creating prerequisites for a further advance into the Dnepropetrovsk direction. Earlier, in an adjacent sector, Russian forces crossed the Gaychur River and captured Novoskelevatoye. Controlling Pisantsy and Novoskelevatoye simultaneously makes it possible to level the front line along the river, deprive Ukrainian units of several convenient crossing points, and create conditions for advancing towards Chernenkovo to the north and Pokrovskoye to the northeast. As more localities along the Volchya and Gaychur rivers fall under control, it will become more difficult for the Ukrainian side to send sabotage groups, which are still fighting in isolated pockets.

Sumy direction

Assault groups from the “North” military grouping continue to advance deeper into the Sumy direction. They carried out strikes on concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Sumy, Glukhov, Volfino, Katerinovka, Marino, Peschany, Mogritsa, Krasnopolie, and Novaya Sech. In the Shostka district, Russian assault forces are engaged in combat directly in Bachevsk and the surrounding area.

In the Sumy district, advances were achieved in nineteen sectors, up to 600 meters. Firefights continue in Pisarevka, Novaya Sech, and the surrounding areas. Artillery units struck positions of the 68th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Mogritsa area. In the Krasnopolie district, there are ongoing firefights in forest areas, and artillery units have struck positions of the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and the Combined Rifle Brigade of the Air Forces in the Krasnopolie area.

Kharkiv direction

Units of the “North” grouping are continuing to expand the security zone in the Kharkiv direction. Strikes were carried out against concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Kazachya Lopan, Izbitskoye, Moskalevka, Bely Kolodez, Sosnovy Bor, Prikolotnoye, Maly Burluk, Vasilevka, Shevchenkovo, Olkhovatka, Dolgenkoye, Bogodukhov, Veliky Burluk, Grachovka, and Udy.

Assault groups are conducting offensive operations in Kazachya Lopan and the surrounding forests. In the Volchansk sector, the “North” assault units have advanced up to 400 meters on eleven segments; firefights are ongoing in Losevka, Ukrainskoye, Zemlyanoy Yar, and the Volchansk district forests. Artillery units struck positions of the 127th Separate Territorial Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Ukrainian forces in the forest near Izbitskoye. In the direction of Velikiy Burluk, assault groups are engaged in firefights in Petro-Ivanovka and the surrounding area. They have advanced in two sectors up to 500 meters. Ukrainian border guard assault detachments attempted a counterattack on Russian forces’ positions south of Zemlyanki. As a result of the ensuing firefight, most of the attackers were eliminated and the rest retreated.

Conclusion

In the directions of Slaviansk, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv, Russian units are continuing to apply systematic pressure, expanding their control zones and inflicting losses on the Ukrainian side. Advances in Rai-Aleksandrovka and Lipovka improve tactical conditions for an offensive toward Orekhovatka. Taking Novoselovka threatens to envelop Malaya Tokmachka and Orekhov. Consolidation on the Volchya and Gaychur rivers in the Dnepropetrovsk direction forms a bridgehead for further leveling of the front. In the Sumy and Kharkiv directions, constant attacks and thermobaric strikes are exhausting Ukrainian reserves.

There has been a new development in the political dimension of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia had received proposals from Ukraine to cease strikes deep within its territory and restrict combat operations to four directions. “There are also new proposals, and I am ready to share some of them. For example, the cessation of strikes on both sides deep into territory.

It’s obvious why this proposal is being made because our retaliatory strikes are much more powerful, sensitive, and destructive, with serious consequences for the Kyiv regime,” he said. He added that a proposal had been received to conduct combat operations only in the Kherson and Zaporozhye directions and the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics and to cease combat operations in all other territories. These initiatives, voiced at the highest level, indicate attempts to find a formula for de-escalation. However, their practical implementation remains in question.

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