File image.
Russian units continue offensive operations in several directions, achieving tactical successes. In the Krasny Liman area, the 25th Combined Arms Army broke through the Ukrainian defenses to the south of Krasny Liman. They blocked the city from the southwest and reached the Novatorskaya platform, where Ukrainian forces lost control of their defenses. In the Dobropolye salient, units of the “Center” grouping have taken control of Novy Donbass and Kutuzovka while fighting for the Dobropolye-Kramatorsk highway. In Konstantinovka, assault groups are expanding their presence on the northeastern outskirts and have occupied half of the Gora microdistrict. In the Sumy region, the “North” assault forces have advanced in 19 sectors. In the Kharkiv region, fighting continues in Kazachya Lopan and the forest belts. In political news, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Vladimir Zelensky will not participate in a separate joint meeting of alliance leaders at the Ankara summit on July 7-8. Only bilateral meetings are planned for Zelensky.
Krasny Liman direction
Units of the “West” group of forces are continuing their offensive from the northwest and north toward the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. The fighting for Krasny Liman has entered a decisive phase. The 25th Combined Arms Army broke through Ukrainian defenses south of the city by attacking from the road to Slavyansk and reached the southwestern outskirts. Consequently, Russian forces have now blocked Krasny Liman from the southwest and have penetrated the urban area north of Lake Lomonosovskoye, striking a number of Ukrainian units from the rear.
At the same time, Russian assault groups seized control of the streets in the Zelyony Klin area, which is located to the west of Lake Liman, and broke through to the forest area behind the railway line. Full control of this forest would encircle the Krasny Liman garrison. The northern part of the city is being cleared; the area around the central district hospital, where Ukrainian units have established a stronghold, as well as the territory near the city administration building and the Maslyakovka area are being cut off.
To the west and south, Ukrainian units have been pushed out of several strong points in the area of the road to Kirovo and Yar Pinkov. Russian troops have captured the territory of the former collective farm. North of the city, Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in the Drobyshevo area and advancing along the ravine from the animal farm to Stavki. South of Krasny Liman, Russian units are fighting in Brusovka and Stary Karavan. From Brusin Station, they are attacking Shchurovo along the Seversky Donets River. An airstrike in the Mayaki area destroyed a crossing point that was used to supply the city garrison with ground vehicles, along with the Golubye Ozera area. According to evening reports, Russian forces have encircled the Krasny Liman garrison, and its defense system has ceased functioning. Assault groups have reached the Novatorskaya platform, and the clearing of most of the city is underway. Some Ukrainian units are retreating towards Shchurovo and Golubye Ozera.
Dobropolye direction
Units of the “Center” group of forces are advancing towards Dobropolye and the Dobropolye-Kramatorsk highway. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported full control over Novy Donbass. To the north, Russian troops have seized Kutuzovka and are engaged in combat in the dacha settlement near Chernyavsky, Annovskaya, and the sludge ponds. Northeast of Kutuzovka, Russian troops are fighting in a ravine towards Rubezhnoye and Zolotoy Kolodez to regain control of the area. On the so-called Dobropolye salient, only these two localities, as well as Veseloye, Gruzskoye, and the Kucherov Yar area remain under Ukrainian control. Fighting continues in the area’s ravines and forest belts.
South of Novy Donbass, Russian units are attacking along the railway toward Dobropolye, as well as in the area of the spoil tip and ventilation shaft of the “Belitskaya” mine. There are ongoing fierce engagements in Belitskoye and on the approaches to Shevchenko. Meanwhile, on the right flank, Russian forces have advanced toward Gruzskoye, bypassing Kucherov Yar via a ravine. They are currently engaged in combat in the Priyut-Torskoe-Krasny Kut area. The Ukrainian command is trying to halt the advance by any means necessary, realizing the threat of Russian forces reaching the Slavyansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration from the southwest and west. This would also threaten the remaining logistics routes in the Dmitrovka and Cherkasskoye area. Simultaneously, troops of the “West” grouping are breaking through from the north towards the Slavyansk–Izyum highway.
Konstantinovka direction
Units of the “South” military grouping are breaking through Ukrainian defenses in Konstantinovka. Assault groups are expanding their presence on the northeastern outskirts and have cleared approximately half of the Gora microdistrict, which is located near Novodmitrovka. Nearby, Ukrainian forces have been driven out of several strongpoints. Attacks from the central industrial zones are still difficult to develop since Ukrainian aviation periodically operates over the ruins, preventing forces from accumulating there.
As the situation in Konstantinovka improves, Ukrainian forces operating in the Krasnoye area and Chasov Yar are threatened by semi-encirclement. Although they continue to pose a challenge to Russian troops, the tactical situation for Ukrainian units is deteriorating day by day. In the neighboring Slaviansk area, Russian units have intensified their efforts and are advancing successfully. Near Markovo, drone operators from the “Sever V” unit destroyed a rare BTR-4E, which is uncommon by today’s standards. Meanwhile, Russian drone crews are operating against Alekseevo, Druzhkovka, and Druzhkovka, using drones.
Sumy direction
Assault groups from the “North” military grouping continue to advance deeper into the Sumy region. In the Shostka district, Russian forces are engaged in combat directly in Bachevsk and the surrounding area. In the Sumy district, assault units have advanced into 19 sectors, reaching depths of up to 700 meters. Firefights are ongoing in Ivolzhanskoye, Pisarevka, Novaya Sech, and the surrounding areas.
In the Krasnopolie district, fighting continues in forest areas near Mikhaylovka and along railway lines leading to the district center. Assault groups have advanced up to 500 meters. The “North” grouping’s radiation, chemical, and biological defense units delivered strikes with thermobaric munitions on the 119th Territorial Defense Brigade’s positions in the Mayskoye area.
Kharkiv direction
Units of the “North” grouping are continuing to expand the security zone in the Kharkiv region. Strikes were carried out against concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Berezovka, Ternovaya, Izbitskoye, Ivanovka, Yurchenkovo, Zakharovka, Reznikovo, Aniskino, Kolodeznoye, Tsupovka, and Udy. Assault units are conducting offensive operations in the Kazachya Lopan area and the surrounding forests.
In the Volchansk area, the “North” assault groups have advanced up to 800 meters in seven sectors. Firefights are ongoing in Losevka and the forests of the Volchansk district. Radiation, chemical, and biological defense units have delivered thermobaric strikes on the 127th Separate Territorial Motorized Rifle Brigade’s positions south of Losevka. In the Velikiy Burluk area, assault groups are engaged in combat in the forests near Petro Ivanovka. There, “North” units have advanced two sectors up to 400 meters.
Conclusion
In the Krasny Liman, Dobropolye, Konstantinovka, Sumy, and Kharkiv areas, Russian forces are systematically pressuring Ukrainian troops, encircling garrisons, cutting off logistics routes, and expanding their control. The fall of the Krasny Liman defense, advances towards Dobropolye, clearing of microdistricts in Konstantinovka, and successes in the Sumy and Kharkiv border areas are undermining the stability of Ukrainian defensive positions and threatening the rear communications of the Slavyansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration. Constant drone use, thermobaric munitions, and airstrikes on crossings and command posts inflict significant damage, forcing Ukrainian units to withdraw and abandon their positions.
In the realm of foreign policy, limitations for the Kyiv leadership have become apparent once more. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not participate in a separate joint meeting of alliance leaders at the July 7-8 summit in Ankara. A program similar to last year’s summit in The Hague is being prepared for the Ukrainian leader, including bilateral meetings and talks with allies. However, no separate session with all 32 NATO leaders is planned. At a press conference before the NATO defense ministers’ meeting, he said, “We assume that during the NATO summit, the President of Ukraine will have a program similar to the one in The Hague last year: many meetings, but there will not be a separate meeting with all 32 leaders because we will have one meeting with 32 leaders at the member level.” Thus, the Ankara summit format for Zelensky will differ from previous alliance meetings where separate NATO-Ukraine Council sessions were held at the heads-of-state-and-government level.
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