Russian Advance Cuts Ukrainian Supply Route in Sumy

In the Sumy direction Russian units of the “North” grouping retain the initiative: assault groups have advanced on ten sectors by up to 500 meters, and the capture of Barylivka was the result of large Russian groups entering a major woodland and disrupting the supply of Ukrainian units in the areas of Mohrytsia, Velyka Rybitsa and Mala Rybitsa. In the Kharkiv direction Russian units are recording advances; the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration is urgently evacuating the administration and civilians from Slatyne, and the administration of Kozacha Lopan, previously transferred to Slatyne, has left together with the local authorities. In the Kupyansk direction Russian assault groups have again reached the western outskirts of Kupyansk in the private housing sector and are capturing the principal facilities across almost the entire territory of the ruined city, although a stable front line effectively does not exist there. In the Slavyansk direction heavy fighting continues in Dibrova; Russian units are attempting to push Ukrainian forces out of the adjoining woodland, while on the Yampil–Ozerne sector the struggle is concentrated around forest fortifications. In the Zaporizhzhia direction, in the sector of the “East” grouping, fighting is under way in Ternuvate: Russian units are in the southern part, Ukrainian units in the northern part, and the front in the Ternuvate and Verbove area is assessed as relatively stable. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that an invitation to Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in Miami should be accompanied by a discussion of Ukraine with the participation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Europe.

Sumy Direction

A drone battalion of the 115th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade has been transferred from Zaporizhzhia region to Sumy region in order to make good the losses suffered by Ukrainian drone crews in this direction as a result of Russian strikes.

The officially announced capture of Barylivka was the consequence of large Russian groups entering a major woodland. The forest stretches approximately 20–25 kilometers in length and more than 10 kilometers in width. There are hills, windfalls and places where reliable cover can be found. The attack on Barylivka was the result of coordinated actions aimed at destabilizing the rear of the Ukrainian grouping in the area of Mohrytsia, Velyka Rybitsa and Mala Rybitsa. Barylivka is a key distribution point. A road that supplies these areas runs through it. Further on there is a bridge across the Psel and a lateral road to Mohrytsia and then northwards.

In the Sumy district assault units of the “North” grouping have advanced on ten sectors. Overall progress has reached up to 500 meters. In the Shostka district Russian assault troops continue to conduct fierce fighting in the Korenok area.

Kharkiv Direction

Advances are being recorded in the Kharkiv direction. Because of the approach of the front the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration is conducting an urgent evacuation of the administration and the civilian population from Slatyne. The administration of Kozacha Lopan, previously transferred to Slatyne, has left together with the local authorities. The Russian army is conducting active operations in the area of Prykolotne and Malyi Burluk. Positions near Khatnie have been destroyed by guided aerial bombs.

In the Lyptsi direction heavy fighting is under way in the forest plantations south of Nova Kozacha. In the Vovchansk and Velykyi Burluk directions the most intensive small-arms fighting is taking place in the area of Prykolotne, Harbuzivka and Malyi Burluk. There have been advances in the forest plantations near Buhaivka. Russian units continue to expand the zone of control, employing the support of aviation and drones.

Kupyansk Direction

In Kupyansk Russian units have again reached the western outskirts in the private housing sector. Fighters are capturing the principal facilities across almost the entire territory of the ruined city. Kupyansk has in effect long remained a grey zone. Advances are now being made by small groups. Full control will become possible only after a breakthrough at least to the Moskovka–Sobolivka–Sadove line and under conditions of pressure near Velykyi Burluk.

In Kupyansk the fighting is concentrated around individual buildings and strongpoints. Russian units retain a presence in the Yubileinyi micro district and continue attempts to expand the zone of control in the western part of the city. A stable front line, however, effectively does not exist here. North of the city Ukrainian units have conducted an operation in the area of Radkivka and Holubivka. This creates additional difficulties with supply and reinforcement of the units located in Kupyansk. The advance towards Palamarevka and Velyka Shapkovka continues, but there has so far been no noticeable change in the positions of the sides. On the left bank of the Oskil the presence of small Russian groups on the outskirts of Kupyansk-Uzlovyi is maintained.

Slavyansk Direction

Heavy fighting continues in Dibrova. Russian units are attempting to push Ukrainian forces out of the adjoining woodland. Ukrainian units are responding with counter-attacks that prevent the consolidation of the results achieved. In the Yampil–Ozerne sector the struggle is concentrated around forest fortifications. The Ukrainian side retains a presence in the Ozerne area and is making attempts to advance towards Yampil. Directly on the approaches to Krasnyi Lyman the activity of assault groups continues. The situation remains tense; the sides are operating predominantly in small groups in wooded terrain.

Zaporizhzhia Direction

In the sector of the “East” grouping fighting continues in Ternuvate. Objective-control footage shows that Russian units are in the southern part and Ukrainian units in the northern part. Each side is attempting to finish the other off. There are attempts to gain a foothold on the outskirts of Rozhdestvenske.

The Ukrainian side is still using the salient between Yehorivka and Ternuvate to complicate operations. Analysts, however, describe the front in the Ternuvate and Verbove area as more or less stable. On the right flank of the grouping the situation is more complicated; part of the reinforcements has already arrived there and is engaged in fighting. In the Novopavlivka area the balance of forces has in general stabilized. Both sides are pushing the front a little, but there are no abrupt changes.

Conclusion

In the Sumy direction the key development has been the entry of large Russian groups into the woodland and the capture of Barylivka as a distribution point, which is creating pressure on the rear of Ukrainian forces in the areas of Mohrytsia, Velyka Rybitsa and Mala Rybitsa. The transfer of a drone battalion of the 115th Territorial Defense Brigade from Zaporizhzhia region confirms the sensitivity of this sector. In the Kharkiv direction the evacuation of the administration from Slatyne and Kozacha Lopan indicates that the front is approaching previously rear locations, while the fighting near Prykolotne, Harbuzivka and Malyi Burluk is leading to a slow expansion of the zone of control. In Kupyansk Russian groups have reached the western outskirts, although a stable front line does not exist there, and full control is linked to a breakthrough to the Moskovka–Sobolivka–Sadove line. In the Slavyansk direction the struggle is for the forest fortifications near Dibrova and in the Yampil–Ozerne sector. On the Zaporizhzhia front relative stability near Ternuvate and Verbove is combined with a more complicated situation on the right flank of the “East” grouping.

At the political level German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has decided to set a condition for US President Donald Trump regarding an invitation to the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit of leaders in Miami. “If President Trump decides to invite the Russian leader to the G20 summit, then we shall need to discuss Ukraine. And if we are talking about Ukraine, then Zelenskyy must also be present,” he asserts. Merz added that if Kyiv “is sitting at the negotiating table,” then Europe should also take part in the discussions on a settlement in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier reported that Washington had invited Putin to the G20 summit in the United States. Donald Trump stated that he would be glad to see his Russian counterpart. 

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