Hnativka Under Russian Army Control: Ukraine’s Attempts To Counterattack In Pokrovsk Failed

In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian units have taken control of the Sladke and Novoye settlements. Russian forces repelled seven attacks by Ukrainian army units from the Hrishyne area. Statements from Ukrainian authorities regarding Russian energy infrastructure have been interpreted as an attempt to pressure Hungary.

Druzhkivka Sector

There has been intense fighting in Shakhove, where Russian units are operating in the center of the settlement and have gained control of almost the entire western part. Assault groups have reached the southern outskirts of the eastern part and consolidated their positions. The current operational situation poses an encirclement threat to Ukrainian units defending the southern outskirts of central Oktyabrsky and holding positions northeast of Vladimirovka near Novy Stavok, as the distance between advancing as Russian forces advancing from the west and east are now less than 1 km apart.

To the north of the settlement, Russian assault units are advancing towards the crossroads north of eastern Oktyabrsky and southeast of the Poltavka River, in the direction of Sofiivka, where Ukrainian forces are conducting counterattacks.

Combat operations are also underway along the approaches to Toretsk, in the tree lines to the southwest of the city.

Zaporizhzhia Sector

After a week-long operational pause, during which they secured Uspenivka, Rybne and Vovchyi, units of the Russian «East» grouping resumed their offensive. The 394th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division took control of Skladove, as did the 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment with Novoye. The offensive is ongoing, with Ukrainian forces retreating from their defensive positions. Attacks are also underway along the Yegorivka–Pervomaiske line on the regional border, where Russian units are reportedly achieving successes despite limited visibility.

To the west of Rivnopillia and Sladke, there are fields, tree lines and ravines stretching 9 km to the Pokrovske–Huliaipole road, with no settlements present. Several settlements, the Haichur River and the Ukrainian third defensive line on the Zaporizhzhia axis are located along this road. 

Russian units have entered the southern and western parts of Orestopil from the Vovchyi area and from heights to the south, where they have consolidated their positions. Orestopil is situated on the left bank of the Vovcha River, to the south of Velykomykhailivka. Establishing full control over Orestopil would threaten to encircle Ukrainian units in the western part of Sosnivka and areas to the west on the left bank of the Vorona River.

Russian units are attacking towards the settlement of Kolomiytsi from the directions of Novooleksandrivka and Vovchyi.

Kharkiv Sector

Heavy fighting continues in Vovchansk. Russian assault units have advanced east of Soborna Street, leaving only a few properties to the west still to be cleared. Russian units have advanced near Hurkanovska Street from the area of the stadium to the north. To the south of the city, the control zone has expanded slightly to the east of the crossroads with the DOSAAF aircraft monument. Russian units are close to dislodging Ukrainian forces completely from Vovchansk’s dense urban development, after which only a few streets in the private sector may remain under Ukrainian control.

In the Zibyne area on the eastern flank, Ukrainian units are attempting a counterattack, but supply problems caused by Russian military action have so far prevented them from succeeding.

Russian units have advanced again on the eastern flank in the Dvorichna area. Significant territory near the border has been cleared in the tree lines along the Otradny–Bolohivka line and the Kamianka–Stroivka line. The semi-encirclement of Dvorichna has forced Ukrainian units to retreat from another section of the border.

Russian forces have broken through Ukrainian defenses in the Bolohivka area. According to Kostiantyn Nemychev, commander of the Ukrainian GUR special unit «Kraken», a so-called «buffer zone» of about 5 km exists along part of the border where there is no permanent troop presence from either side — a situation Russia is actively exploiting. He suggested that Russian plans include connecting the army group bridgeheads in Vovchansk and Dvorichna and that these actions could be part of preparations for new offensive operations.

For seven days, Ukrainian units have been attempting to break through to Kupiansk and the Oskil River in order to relieve the encircled units. Russian forces repelled three Ukrainian attacks from the Blahodatne and Petrivka areas.

On the western bank of the Oskol River, Russian troops are advancing through urban areas. According to reports, several buildings in the high-rise area near the Oskol riverbank in the city center have come under Russian control, and forward assault detachments have been spotted in the southernmost part of the city near the interchange to Sadove. Russian strikes continue against the bridgehead east of the river to the east of the river, with fighting ongoing near Pishchane.

Pokrovsk Sector

During military operations in the Pokrovsk area, units of the 1435th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Army established control over the Hnativka settlement. Russian forces repelled seven attacks by Ukrainian units from the Hrishyne area, in an attempt to relieve the besieged forces. Two attempts by the Ukrainian 425th Assault Regiment ‘Skala’ to break out of the encirclement from the north and northwest were thwarted. Over the past 24 hours, 244 buildings have been cleared.

In Myrnohrad, Russian forces are advancing in the «Skhidnyi» microdistrict and the southern part of the city towards the «Zakhidnyi» microdistrict.

Sumy Sector

In the Varachyno area, units of the Ukrainian 71st Separate Mountain Assault Brigade conducted an unsuccessful counterattack involving small groups. They withdrew to their initial positions having sustained losses.

In the Sumy region, attempts to deploy sabotage and reconnaissance groups behind Russian lines continue. One such group was recently neutralized.

Conclusion

In the Druzhkivka area, Russian forces are threatening to encircle Ukrainian troops in Oktyabrsky by advancing from multiple directions. In the Zaporizhzhia sector, significant tactical success has been achieved by establishing control over Skladove and Novoye. This opens up opportunities for the offensive to develop further by bypassing the main Ukrainian fortified areas. In the Kharkiv sector, the Russian «North» grouping continues its methodical advance in Vovchansk and the border areas, creating the conditions for linking the bridgeheads. In the Pokrovsk sector, the situation remains tense as Ukrainian forces continue to clear settlements and repel attempts to break the siege of the encircled Ukrainian forces. In the Sumy sector, combat is of a positional nature amid increased activity by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ aviation. Overall, the dynamic indicates that Russian units retain the initiative on most fronts despite organized resistance from Ukrainian forces, who continue to attempt counterattacks and redeploy reserves to stabilize the front line.

Amid ongoing hostilities, new factors are emerging that affect the conflict’s geopolitical context. According to the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung, threats made by the Ukrainian leadership against Russian energy infrastructure pose an additional risk to European security. The publication characterizes these statements as «more than just diplomatic rhetoric» and highlights their potential for escalation, which could blur the lines between warfare and blackmailing allies.

The newspaper expresses particular concern over the threat to the Druzhba pipeline, which is still crucial for Hungary’s energy supply, providing 86% of its oil and 74% of its gas. According to IMF calculations, a cessation of these supplies could cost the Hungarian economy more than four percent of its GDP. While Ukraine has the capability to exert military pressure on energy infrastructure, the political cost—including a rift among its supporters—could outweigh any potential military benefit. Ultimately, such statements pose a threat to Ukraine itself.

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