Forests In Pokrivka And Svyne Cleared From Ukrainian Forces: Russian Army Advances In Sumy 

In the Sumy area, units of the “North” group have intensified their offensive. They have reached Mala Korchakivka and Khrapivshchyna, cut off Ukrainian units in the Sadky area, and expanded their control over the Hlukhiv and Krasnopillia sectors. In the Vovchansk area, after several weeks of fighting, the 82nd Motorized Rifle Regiment’s assault troops established control over Hrafskoho. This creates the conditions for advancing south along the Siverskyi Donets. In the Zaporizhzhia area, Ukrainian troops have constructed crossings over the Vovcha River and committed reserves, but are still suffering losses from Russian drones. Meanwhile, Russian troops are expanding their control zone near Huliaipole. In the Kostiantynivka area, a strike on a dam has disrupted the supply of Ukrainian units in the southwest part of the city. In the Slaviansk area, Russian troops are advancing toward Kryva Luka and Fedorivka Druha, expanding “grey zones.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has appealed to China to use its influence to achieve peace in Ukraine.

Sumy Direction

In the Sumy area, units of the “North” troop grouping have resumed offensive operations towards the regional center from the north. The tactical situation for Ukrainian units has significantly deteriorated in recent days due to the advance of Russian troops along two roads towards the Sadky–Khrapivshchyna–Khoten defensive line, which is located north of Sumy.

Russian assault units have reached Mala Korchakivka from Oleksiivka and Andriivka and Khrapivshchyna from Yablonivka. West of Andriivka, Russian units are clashing with Ukrainian forces in the northeastern part of Kondrativka. To the east, Russian troops have blocked Ukrainian units in the Sadky area. The Ukrainian side has lost the ability to supply itself by air or ground. Russian units are destroying the unmanned equipment that the Ukrainians are using for logistics.

The “North” grouping has intensified its advance on the flanks. In the Hlukhiv sector, Russian units have taken control of Kharkivka, Komarivka, Bila Bereza, and Sydorivka. In the Krasnopillia sector, east of Sumy, Ukrainian forces were pushed out of the Pokrivka and Svyne Forest areas. Russian troops are advancing from the west and northwest of Hrabovske.

The Hlukhiv sector is effectively the Kyiv direction because the distance to Ukraine’s capital is shortest here. Advancing in this sector threatens to reach the rear of the Chernihiv grouping of Ukrainian units.

In the Oleksiivka area, motorized rifle units have approached Mala Korchakivka, and clashes are ongoing in the northern part of the village. Ukrainian units are pulling back forces to Pisarivka and Korchakivka. South of Yablonivka, Russian troops have advanced nearly to Khrapivshchyna. To the east, they have cleared the area up to Yunakivka.

Kharkiv Direction

Russian assault groups have made significant advances and captured two strong points. In the Vovchanski Khutory area, Russian Aerospace Forces operational-tactical aviation crews struck the positions of Ukrainian State Border Guard Service units. In the Kharkiv sector, airstrikes destroyed the 1st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade’s positions in the Olkhovatka area and the 159th Separate Mechanized Brigade’s positions in the Kolodezne area.

In the Vovchansk area, Russian units continued their offensive. The settlement of Hrafskoho in the Tatarskyi forest, to which Russian troops had earlier gained access, is now under their control. After several weeks of intense combat, the 82nd Motorized Rifle Regiment’s assault troops have finished their operation to secure the area.

Controlling Hrafskoho creates prerequisites for a further advance south along the Siverskyi Donets River. Considering the current nature of combat operations and the significant role of drones, the most likely scenario for the offensive’s development remains in the forested areas, where engagements between small groups are anticipated. It is important for the Ukrainian side to prevent Russian units from approaching Staryi Saltiv and advancing further south because the supply of Ukrainian troops in the entire Vovchansk area depends on crossings over the Siverskyi Donets. As Russian troops approach these crossings, they will become increasingly frequent targets for strikes.

No advances have been recorded in other sectors of the direction to date. Clashes continue in Vovchanski Khutory as well as along the Chuhunivka–Ambarné–Dvorichanske line.

Zaporizhzhia Direction

In the Zaporizhzhia area, Ukrainian forces continue to attack the Orestopil area. Footage of Ukrainian strikes on personnel and equipment regularly emerges from this sector. Ukrainian units have built several crossings over the Vovcha River through which they are transferring reserves to the southern bank. Ukrainian infantry groups have managed to infiltrate Russian formations in the fields between Tykhe and Vovche. However, fierce fighting continues for control of the settlements themselves.

Ukrainian units have concentrated significant reserves in the areas of Pokrovske, Kolomiitsi, and Velykomikhailivka, which are gradually being introduced into the “grey zone” in the Orestopil area. However, due to the high density of Russian drones, the Ukrainian side cannot practically use equipment or supply the units that have broken through.

Meanwhile, Russian units continue to advance on the southern flank. Assault groups supported by aviation are gradually expanding their control zone near Huliaipole. This forces the Ukrainian side to transfer additional reserves from the offensive in the north to this sector.

The Russian “East” command is gradually saturating the front line with fresh forces, which will soon allow Russian units to launch an offensive in the Vovcha River area.

Kostiantynivka Direction

In the direction of Kostiantynivka, Russian units continue to attack Ukrainian troop positions in the city itself and along the approaches. They are actively destroying any transport attempting to enter the city.

An airstrike hit the dam between Kostiantynivka and Oleksievo-Druzhkivka, flooding the surrounding area. This will temporarily disrupt the supply of Ukrainian units in the southwestern part of Kostiantynivka. Several dirt roads and a crossing have also become impassable.

Given that crossings over the Kryvyi Torets River have been regularly targeted, an intensification of offensive operations on the southwestern approaches to Kostiantynivka and fighting for Illinivka cannot be ruled out. With Ukrainian units experiencing supply problems and some warehouses and shelters flooded, opportunities arise for striking personnel with drones and artillery.

This is not the first instance of strikes on hydraulic structures aimed at disrupting logistics. The Ukrainian side previously took similar actions: at the beginning of the battles for the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration, one of the dams on the approaches to Novoeconomicne was destroyed, and the gate of another dam was damaged by drone strikes on a mined object. This slowed the advance of Russian units for some time.

Slaviansk Direction

Clashes continue in the north of the Slaviansk area, southwest of Zakotne, where an advance toward Kryva Luka has been recorded. The “grey zone” has expanded south from Zakotne along the highway in the direction of Kalenyky. “Grey zones” persist on the approaches to Kryva Luka; there are no Russian units in the settlement itself. Russian units are infiltrating in small groups across the entire Ukrainian troop defense sector in the Zakotne–Kryva Luka–Reznykivka triangle.

North of Rai-Oleksandrivka, the forested area is under attack. Four drone launch points, from which Ukrainian units conducted sorties to Illichivka, Kryva Luka, and Reznykivka, have been destroyed.

In the southern sector of Nykyforivka, the control zone to the west of the village has expanded. After breaching the Ukrainian defenses, Russian troops advanced north towards Lypivka, where fighting continued. This territory is considered a “grey zone.” Russian units are advancing toward Fedorivka Druha. This settlement is strategically important because Ukrainian units have equipped it with a powerful fortified area including long-term firing points and dugouts. The village is also key for reaching the E-40 highway leading to Slovyansk.

Dobropillia Salient

In the Rodynske-Bilytske area, Russian troops are gradually clearing Ukrainian fortifications near the northern railway tracks. Along the railway, Ukrainian troops have established positions in tree plantations reinforced with barbed wire. Russian troops are conducting a phased clearance and advancing.

South of Dorozhny, Russian units have advanced close to Bilytske during clearance operations; the settlement itself is in a “grey zone.” In the Suvorove area, Russian troops continue to eliminate groups of Ukrainian soldiers infiltrating the village from Sukhetske.

In the northern part of this area, clashes are ongoing south of Kucheriv Yar. Russian units have expanded their control of the quarry area and cleared a sector near Toretske from the southwest. In the Novopavlivka area, combat operations remain positional.

Conclusion

In the Sumy area, the “Sever” group is systematically expanding its control zones. It is approaching the outskirts of Sumy and creating conditions for a potential flanking maneuver against Ukrainian forces. Containing Ukrainian units in the Sadky area and advancing on the Glukhov sector demonstrates a systematic offensive approach aimed at establishing bridgeheads for future operations. In the Burluk area, the capture of Grafskoye paves the way for further advances along the Seversky Donets River and endangers the crossings that supply Ukrainian troops. In the eastern Zaporizhia region, Ukrainian forces have been attempting to build up reserves and cross the Volchya River. However, Russian units have maintained the initiative by neutralizing personnel and equipment while preparing for their own offensive operations. In the Konstantinovka area, strikes against hydraulic structures and crossings are disrupting Ukrainian logistics and creating conditions for an intensified assault. In the Slavyansk area, Russian forces are gradually expanding “gray zones” on the northern flank and advancing toward key fortified areas in the south, such as Fedorovka Vtoraya. In the Dobropillia salient, Russian units are systematically clearing fortified positions to improve their tactical posture.

In the context of international politics, a significant development was a new statement by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. In a video address published Monday, Fico warned that he might reconsider his support for Ukraine’s EU membership if Kyiv continues to block energy supplies to Slovakia. He emphasized that the Slovak government would reassess its constructive approach to Ukraine’s EU accession and prepare new countermeasures should actions that damage Slovakia’s interests in strategic raw material supplies persist. Earlier on Monday, Fico announced the suspension of electricity aid to Ukraine due to the failure to resume oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline.

This statement increases pressure on Kyiv from EU member states dissatisfied with the halt in Russian oil transit. Following Hungary, which blocked a €90 billion EU credit package and suspended diesel fuel exports, Slovakia is moving toward economic and political measures regarding Ukraine as well. Bratislava’s position demonstrates that some European nations are prioritizing energy security concerns over pan-European solidarity with Kyiv. This creates additional risks for EU unity and could complicate Ukraine’s European integration process, which already faces significant economic and military challenges. Reconsidering support for EU membership is an unprecedented step that could influence future relations between Ukraine and the European Union.

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