File image.
In the Dobropolye direction, Russian units consolidated in Vodyanskoye and advanced in Svetloye, liberating Matyashevo and Novonikolaevka, though reports of entry into the outskirts of Dobropolye have not yet been confirmed. In the Zaporozhye direction, assault groups are fighting inside Orekhov, advancing on Primorskoye and Lukyanovskoye, while the breakthrough to Novosoloshino creates a threat of enveloping the Orekhov fortified area. In the Slaviansk direction, Russian forces are expanding control southeast of Krasny Liman, repelling Ukrainian attacks in the Redkodub and Novy areas, while south of Kramatorsk the formation of a strike grouping is being recorded. In the Sumy region, assault groups of the “North” advanced on 22 sectors by up to 700 meters and repelled a counterattack by the 68th Airmobile Brigade. In the Kharkiv region, Russian units on the Volchansk sector advanced up to 700 meters, while in the Ternovaya area a counterattack by four assault groups was repelled. Polish President’s press secretary Rafał Leszkiewicz called the “Eastern Shield” on the border with Russia and Belarus “leaky” and non-functional.
Dobropolye direction
In the Shevchenko area, Russian troops consolidated on the outskirts of Vodyanskoye and are operating in Svetloye. Additionally, according to the Ministry of Defense, the settlement of Matyashevo was brought under control on this sector.
In the eastern sector of the direction, the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment managed to establish control over Novonikolaevka. This became possible due to the capture of a large strongpoint west of Krasny Ugol, which assault groups use for covert accumulation.
At the same time, reports have emerged from the Ukrainian side of Russian units entering the eastern outskirts of Dobropolye. These claims have not been backed by objective control footage, so given the difficult situation in the “low-altitude airspace,” they should be treated with skepticism. The situation on the approaches to Dobropolye is clearly deteriorating for Ukrainian units. This is likely related to the redeployment of additional drone units from the southern sector of the front to this direction.
Zaporozhye direction
Slightly to the north, clearance operations continue in the forest belts between Novoselovka and Belogorye. The task is to secure the flank for the units that have broken through forward. The right-flank 35th Army of the “Vostok” grouping is already operating there. After the clearance of the belts is completed, forces intend to reach Egorovka and engage in fighting for it. The further route leads to Omelnik. For the Ukrainian command, the loss of this direction is unacceptable, as the eastern and northeastern envelopment of Orekhov would then be finalized.
The breakthrough to Novosoloshino and the establishment of control over this point, located beyond the former defense line, has already been called a “very alarming signal.” If the offensive continues at the same pace and Ukrainian units do not transfer significant reserves, there is a possibility of completing the fight for the Orekhov fortified area. From there, the direction opens toward the Pavlovka – Yurkovka – Tavriyskoye – Lyubitskoye line, from which further advance toward Volnyansk and Zaporozhye is possible.
Slaviansk direction
In the Redkodub and Novy area, the situation remains tense. Ukrainian units have redeployed National Guard reserves, training units, and even rear-area units here. The intensity of attacks is increasing; Russian units are repelling wave after wave. Assault operations continue in the Korovy Yar area. Aviation is actively striking crossings over the Seversky Donets, preventing the transfer of Ukrainian reserves. Strikes are being delivered on logistics routes in Svyatogorsk and Mayaki.
In Krasny Liman itself, active fighting continues: Russian units are pressing Ukrainian troops out of individual streets on the southern and southwestern sides of the city. The control zone has been expanded southeast of Krasny Liman, with advance toward Raygorodok. Rocket artillery and aviation are striking rear areas in Izyum, Kapitolovka, and Oskol.
South of Kramatorsk, Ukrainian units are forming another strike grouping. A counterattack in the Alekseevo-Druzhkovka area toward Konstantinovka cannot be ruled out, as well as an attempt to neutralize the breakthrough of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division in the Novogrigorovka and Rayskoye area.
Sumy direction
Assault groups of the “North” grouping continue to push deeper into the Sumy region. Strikes were carried out against concentrations of personnel and equipment of Ukrainian units in the areas of Kiyanitsa, Tolstodubovo, the villages of Sadki and Ruda, and the settlement of Ugroyedy. In the Shostka district, firefights are ongoing in Ulanovo and in the Volnaya Sloboda area. In the Sumy district, Russian assault units advanced on twenty-two sectors, with a total advance of up to 700 meters. Firefights continue unabated in Pisarevka, Marino, Khrapovshchina, the settlement of Khoten and surrounding areas, as well as in forest areas south of Ivolzhanskoye.
Ukrainian units, using two assault groups from the 68th separate airmobile brigade, made another counterattack attempt in the Sadki area. As a result of comprehensive fire engagement, most of the attackers were eliminated; the remainder retreated.
Kharkiv direction
Russian aviation destroyed Ukrainian reserves from the 475th separate assault regiment in Slatino and Dolzhik, where a tent camp of troops undergoing combat coordination was struck. Firefights are also ongoing in the Goptovka area.
In the Volchansk sector, assault units of the “North” advanced on eight sectors by up to 700 meters. Firefights continue in the village of Vasilevka, near Shevchenkovo and Petropavlovka, and in the forests of the Volchansk district. Ukrainian units attempted a counterattack using four assault groups from the 23rd separate assault regiment in the Ternovaya area.
Aerial surveillance detected an attempted advance from Bugaevka of three assault groups from the 127th separate tank brigade of Ukrainian units on mobile equipment. In the Velikiy Burluk direction, Russian assault groups continue firefights in Dolzhanka, in the Olkhovatka area, and west of Ustinovka.
Two Russian army corps are in the final stage of closing the encirclement ring around Ukrainian units in the northeastern Volchansk district. The likely meeting point is the Nefedovka farmstead. Ukrainian infantry cannot overcome the formed “bottleneck,” as they cannot use dirt roads due to Russian control from the air and ground.
Conclusion
In the Dobropolye, Zaporozhye, Slaviansk, Sumy, and Kharkiv directions, Russian units continue to exert systematic pressure, expanding their control zones and inflicting losses on the Ukrainian side. In the Dobropolye direction, consolidation in Vodyanskoye and Svetloye, as well as the capture of Matyashevo and Novonikolaevka, create the prerequisites for further advance toward Dobropolye, though stable supply to forward groups remains a problem due to Ukrainian drone activity. In the Zaporozhye direction, fighting inside Orekhov and the advance on Primorskoye and Lukyanovskoye are developing the envelopment of the Orekhov fortified area, while the breakthrough to Novosoloshino intensifies the threat of its encirclement. In the Slaviansk direction, Russian units are expanding control southeast of Krasny Liman, repelling counterattacks, and disrupting Ukrainian logistics, though south of Kramatorsk the formation of a Ukrainian strike grouping is being recorded. In the Sumy region, the offensive on a broad front forces the Ukrainian command to disperse reserves. In the Kharkiv region, the advance on the Volchansk sector and the repulse of counterattacks, as well as the closing of the encirclement ring in the Volchansk district, are worsening the position of Ukrainian units.
Polish President’s press secretary Rafał Leszkiewicz called the “Eastern Shield” on the border with Russia and Belarus “leaky” and non-functional. According to him, government assurances about guarantees for the security of Polish airspace and NATO’s eastern flank are merely PR procedures. He also noted that no report has yet been presented on the missile that fell on Polish territory at the end of July. The “Eastern Shield” program was initiated in 2024, with $2.5 billion planned to be allocated over four years. Polish authorities intend to create military infrastructure on the eastern flank of the border with Russia and Belarus, but according to Leszkiewicz, this initiative has not yet delivered the stated results.
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