Russian Army Broke Through Another Ukrainian Line In Zaporozhye

In Konstantinovka, assault groups are expanding their control over the western and northeastern parts of the city and approaching Alekseevo-Druzhkovka. In the direction of Zaporozhye, there are ongoing fierce engagements in Lyubitskoye and along the Rovnoye–Dolinka–Kopani line, with both sides using drones extensively. In the Sumy direction, the “North” assault forces are advancing amid heavy fighting in Bachevsk, Novaya Sech, and the forests of the Krasnopolie district. In the Kharkiv direction, fighting continues in Kazachya Lopan. In the Volchansk sector, the advance has reached 750 meters, and thermobaric strikes are being delivered to positions near Izbitskoye and Zemlyanki. In the direction of Slavyansk, Russian forces are consolidating in the urban areas of Krasny Liman and advancing in the Zelyony Klin area. They are conducting airstrikes on crossings and reserves. Against this backdrop, the Polish president’s press secretary stated that the Ukrainian side first requested, then canceled, a meeting between Karol Nawrocki and Vladimir Zelensky. This ultimately led to Zelensky being stripped of Poland’s highest award.

Konstantinovka direction

Units of the “South” military grouping continue to advance through Ukrainian defenses within the city limits of Konstantinovka. Russian forces have taken control of the hospital complex on the western outskirts and part of the Gruzskaya ravine on the northeastern outskirts, including residential buildings and the approaches to Molocharka and Novodmitrovka. Ukrainian units remain in Molocharka and Novodmitrovka. Ukrainian forces are stretching their defense and clinging to the northern outskirts. However, they are no longer able to hold the city as a whole. Russian assault groups are approaching the operational zone of Alekseevo-Druzhkovka, which gives grounds for cautious optimism.

Ukrainian units have suffered significant losses in personnel and transportation while attempting to saturate defensive positions in this area. This has allowed Ukrainian forces to buy time to strengthen the southern flank of Druzhkovka. However, the battle for Konstantinovka itself has not yet been decided.

Zaporozhye direction

Units of the “Vostok” force group continue their offensive and are engaged in intense combat under conditions of heavy drone activity in the western sector. They are addressing the task of enveloping the Ukrainian forces’ Orekhov defense area from the north and blocking the Orekhov garrison’s eastern supply route. Russian forces have advanced in Lyubitskoye, where Ukrainian forces are constantly launching counterattacks with small infantry groups in an attempt to push the Russian forces out of the town and adjacent sectors to the north and south. Meanwhile, Russian units have advanced south of Lyubitskoye and Lesnoye towards Novosoloshino, reaching the Verkhnyaya Tersa River at its confluence with the Solenaya River. Further south, attacks are being conducted along the Rovnoye–Dolinka–Kopani line and the third defense line of Ukrainian forces. Units are being pushed out of strong points towards Omelnik. Further south, meeting engagements continue, and Russian units are operating in Novoselovka and in positions north and south of it, as well as between Volshebnoye and Belogorye.

In a neighboring area, Russian forces are engaging in heavy combat, breaking through the layered defenses near Orekhov and advancing in Malaya Tokmachka, Novodanilovka, and Novoandreevka. North of the Stepnogorka area, Ukrainian units are counterattacking. Russian forces used limited visibility to break through the M-18 highway into the Rechnoye area. Aviation is striking bridges and the DneproHES dam area.

Sumy direction

Assault units of the “North” grouping continue to advance in the Sumy direction amid heavy fighting. Aviation and strike drone crews have struck concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Sumy, Trostyanets, Yanovka, Luzhki, Radkovka, Baranovka, and Bolshoy Prikol.

The Ukrainian forces have suffered the greatest losses in the Shostka district and the Bachevsk area, where intense fighting continues. In the Sumy district, the “North” assault forces have advanced in eighteen sectors, with a total advance of up to 700 meters. Ukrainian units are putting up fierce resistance in the Novaya Sech area, having increased the number of drone crews in this sector and actively using tube and rocket artillery. In the Krasnopolie district, North forces have advanced significantly in the forest areas around Mikhaylovka and Pokrovka, advancing up to 300 meters.

Kharkiv direction

Units of the “North” grouping are taking measures to expand the security zone in the Kharkiv direction. Strikes were carried out against concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Kharkiv, Klenovoye, Losevka, Mitrofanovka, Bely Kolodez, Kolodeznoye, Odnorobovka, Ternovaya, Izbitskoye, Zakharovka, Shevyakovka, and Khatneye.

In the Kazachya Lopan area, assault groups are advancing deeper. Over the past day, they advanced up to 100 meters. In the Volchansk area, assault forces advanced up to 750 meters in ten sectors. Firefights are ongoing in the forest near the recently captured areas of Pokalyano, Karaichnoye, and Volokhovka. Artillery units struck positions of Ukrainian units in the Izbitskoye area. In the Velikiy Burluk area, fierce fighting continues in the Petro-Ivanovka sector. “North” forces advanced up to 500 meters in two sectors. Rocket strikes hit Ukrainian forces’ positions in the Zemlyanki area.

Slaviansk direction

Russian forces are continuing their offensive in the Krivaya Luka and Kaleniki areas. According to objective control data, Russian units have advanced south of Malaya Piskunovka, and Krivaya Luka remains under their control. Forward positions near Piskunovka and Krivaya Luka have been shelled by Ukrainian forces. The destruction of a “Dzhura” armored fighting vehicle has been reported in Nikolaevka.

Russian assault groups continue to enter the southern part of Krasny Liman, marking their presence with flags at several points in the urban area. Ukrainian reinforcements are being struck with high-explosive aviation bombs in the Mayaki and Shchurovo areas. Strikes on equipment at the Mayaki crossing and on the Svyatogorsk–Yarovaya–Drobyshevo–Zelyony Klin logistics line continue as well. The main activity is currently concentrated in the Zelyony Klin area. Previous assessments of Krasny Liman were likely underestimated. An official announcement of its complete capture may be imminent.

Conclusion

In the areas surrounding Konstantinovka, Zaporozhye, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Slaviansk, Russian units are systematically expanding their control zones and wearing down the Ukrainian forces’ personnel and equipment. In Konstantinovka, assault forces are clearing the outskirts and approaching Alekseevo-Druzhkovka. In the Zaporozhye direction, the layered defense toward Zaporozhye is being breached. In the Sumy and Kharkiv directions, constant attacks and thermobaric strikes are dispersing reserves. In the Slaviansk direction, Russian forces are consolidating in Krasny Liman and creating conditions for the city’s further envelopment. The systematic destruction of artillery, command posts, crossings, and supply columns, combined with air superiority and an advantage in drones, undermines Ukrainian units’ ability to sustain a defense.

Against this backdrop, political tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw have intensified once again. The Polish president’s press secretary, Rafał Leszkiewicz, stated that the Ukrainian side initially requested a meeting between Karol Nawrocki and Volodymyr Zelensky but ultimately canceled it. According to Leszkiewicz, Kyiv initially suggested a phone conversation, which did not occur due to Zelensky’s lack of response. Then, a proposal for an in-person meeting was made with a set date and time, but Zelensky refused the meeting. Leszkiewicz characterized the Ukrainian side’s actions as a “purely stalling tactic.”

Leszkiewicz cited the Ukrainian authorities’ refusal to rename a military unit named after “heroes of the UPA” (an organization banned in the Russian Federation) as the reason for canceling the meeting. On Friday, against this backdrop, the Polish president stripped Zelensky of his highest award, the Order of the White Eagle, for glorifying figures of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Thus, the conflict over historical policy continues to deepen the rift in relations between the two countries and calls into question further support for Kyiv from a key European partner.

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