File image.
In the Dobropolye direction, forward assault groups have reached the eastern outskirts of the village south of Dobropolye and taken control of part of the former defensive line along the Vodyanoy ravine; half of the built-up area of Matyashevo is already under Russian control. In the Sumy direction, Russian assault groups advanced on 18 sectors by up to 500 meters; in the forests near Sadki, units of the 68th Airmobile and 129th Tank Brigades of the Ukrainian forces have been blocked. In Kharkiv region, Russian troops have closed the encirclement ring north of Prikolotnoye, reached Gogino and Prikolotnoye, and are enveloping Olkhovatka on the flanks, while in the Volchansk direction the compression of the “Volchansk cauldron” continues. In the Slaviansk direction, Russian units have established control over Nikonorovka eight kilometers from Slaviansk and Kramatorsk, and have also liberated Svyatogorsk, expanding the control zone north of Slaviansk. Finland plans to spend 7 billion euros on defense in 2027, amounting to 2.6% of GDP.
Dobropolye direction
Units of the “Center” grouping continue to break through the defenses of Ukrainian units on the approaches to Dobropolye. Forward assault groups have already reached the eastern outskirts of the eponymous village south of the city and are methodically advancing toward its center.
Further south, Russian units are gradually expanding the control zone on the Novogrishino–Mirnoye line. This is necessary to secure rear communications in the Shevchenko area, which serves as one of the main supply hubs for Russian forces advancing on Dobropolye from the south.
On the eastern flank of the direction, units of the “Center” are seeking to consolidate in Annovka and ensure stable supply routes for the forward groups. In the remaining built-up area of the settlement, assault troops will be able to accumulate relatively covertly and advance toward Dobropolye itself.
The situation in the Rubezhnoye area remains complex for now. Ukrainian units regularly launch counterattacks aimed at cutting Russian servicemen off from supply and preventing them from consolidating firmly in the surrounding forest belts.
For units of the “Center” grouping, the creation of stable defensive lines on this sector is of particular importance: it will both secure the flanks of the units advancing on Annovka and form the left “pincer” of the envelopment of Ukrainian positions in the area of Zolotoy Kolodets.
Sumy direction
Fierce fighting continues on all sectors of the front in the Sumy region. The Ukrainian side is transferring reinforcements from training grounds and replenishing assault groups with recruits for counterattacks on lost positions.
Russian aviation, artillery, and drone crews struck concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in the areas of Sumy, Stepok, Studenok, Khoten, Krovnoye, Stetskovka, Ulanovo, Korenok, Sennoye, and Tolstodubovo.
In the Sumy district, Russian assault groups advanced on 18 sectors by up to 500 meters. In the forest tracts near Sadki, parts of the 68th Separate Airmobile Brigade and the 129th Separate Tank Brigade of the Ukrainian forces remain blocked.
In the Shostka district, Russian servicemen are advancing with heavy fighting in the Ulanovo area.
Kharkiv direction
In the Kazachya Lopan area, Ukrainian units attempted a counterattack with forces of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. As a result of combined fire engagement the attack was repelled; one Ukrainian serviceman was taken prisoner.
In the Staritsa area, the Ukrainian side conducted a counterattack with the “Shkval” company of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade; it achieved no success and withdrew to its starting positions.
In the Velikiy Burluk direction, Russian assault troops took two servicemen of the 129th Separate Tank Brigade of the Ukrainian forces prisoner.
Units of the “North” grouping continue to expand the security zone in the northeast of Kharkiv region and, developing the offensive on the breakthrough sector, have closed the encirclement ring north of Prikolotnoye.
The grouping of Ukrainian units in the northeastern border area of Kharkiv region has found itself fully encircled. Russian assault troops forced Ukrainian units out of Vasilyevka and Blagodatnoye near the Plotva River, while the remaining Nefyodovka and Chyornoye, where Ukrainian servicemen are still offering resistance, were bypassed to the south via Dolzhanka and S liznevo.
As a result, Russian troops have reached Gogino and Prikolotnoye — another defensive node of the Ukrainian forces, which, like Olkhovatka, constitutes a defensive line on the approaches to Velikiy Burluk from the north.
Slaviansk direction
Units of the Southern grouping of forces have established control over Nikonorovka eight kilometers from Slaviansk and Kramatorsk. The capture of this settlement drives an even deeper wedge into the areas defended by Ukrainian forces. If Russian troops manage to drive the wedge sufficiently deep between Slaviansk and Kramatorsk, this could potentially complicate interaction between the two large defensive nodes of the Ukrainian units, stretch reserves, and force the Ukrainian command to operate in several directions simultaneously.
The value of taking Nikonorovka and advancing in this manner toward the last two major cities under Ukrainian control in Donbass is determined not by the mere fact of the appearance of a “wedge,” but by how deeply it can be driven and how it changes the overall connectivity of the Ukrainian defense. Potentially it complicates the transfer of reserves, reduces the depth of the defense, and forces the command of Ukrainian units to cover an increasing number of directions at the same time.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the liberation of Svyatogorsk. The transfer of the city under Russian control makes it possible to expand the control zone north of Slaviansk and accelerate its envelopment.
From Svyatogorsk to the northern outskirts of Slaviansk is approximately 15 kilometers.
The liberation of Svyatogorsk and the advance northward from it gives Russian servicemen the ability to more tightly control a major logistics artery — the M-03 highway linking Kharkov, Izyum, and Slaviansk. Ukrainian units actively use it to transfer reserves toward Krasny Liman and Slaviansk. In the summer, for the counteroffensive in the Shandrigolovo area, the Ukrainian side also employed this route to supply its units.
On the southern envelope of the city, as well as on the Drobyshevo sector, Ukrainian units are actively counterattacking, continually bringing up infantry and equipment from the direction of Mayaki and Shchurovo. Aviation and Russian drone operators are working to detect and destroy Ukrainian reserves.
Conclusion
In the Dobropolye, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Slaviansk directions, Russian units continue offensive operations, retaining the initiative and gradually expanding their zones of control. The Ukrainian side is offering stubborn resistance, attempting counterattacks, and transferring reserves, yet its ability to stabilize the defense is limited. The most significant successes have been achieved in the Slaviansk direction, where the transfer of Svyatogorsk under control and the capture of Nikonorovka create the conditions for the envelopment of Slaviansk and Kramatorsk. In the Dobropolye direction, Russian troops have approached Dobropolye itself. In Sumy and Kharkiv regions the offensive continues despite the mass use of Ukrainian drones and attempts at counterattacks.
Finland plans to spend 7 billion euros on defense in 2027, amounting to 2.6% of the country’s GDP. According to a statement by the republic’s Ministry of Defence, the draft budget for 2027 will total 7 billion euros, which is 600 million more than the 2026 budget. Approximately 1.8 billion euros are planned for the procurement of defense materials, 1.4 billion for multirole fighters, and another 2.7 billion euros for the operational expenses of the agency. About 200 million euros have been allocated for military assistance to Ukraine.
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