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Russian assault groups are advancing near Vilcha, pushing toward Kharkiv, while further south, their units have taken control of more than half of Siversk. This progress is setting the stage for a potential encirclement of the area. Amid these developments, the German publication Der Tagesspiegel suggests that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may have to consider territorial concessions as a basis for future negotiations.
Kharkiv Sector
Combat operations continue on two main sectors of the Kharkiv front. South of Vovchansk, fighting is ongoing. Russian assault groups have advanced in the central and eastern parts of Vilcha.
On the western flank near Liman, two enemy strongpoints have been seized, with engagements continuing in the forested area near Prylypka. To the east of Vovchansk, clashes are taking place in the area of the Vovchanski Khutora, Tykhyi, and Zybyne settlements. Russian forces are now operating inside Vovchanski Khutora.
In the Velykyi Burluk sector, fighting continues in Khatnie, Ambarnyi, and Dvorichna. Russian units have advanced along two tree lines towards Khatnie and in the Dvorichna area.
Zaporizhzhia Sector
In the Zaporizhzhia sector, Russian units are continuing their offensive on the right flank, in the area of Huliaipole and its eastern outskirts. There is ongoing fighting for control of Varvarivka and along the Haichur River. In Huliaipole, assault groups have advanced to the intersection of Donetska and Naberezhna Streets, as well as the Zarechanska Street area. North of Huliaipole, Russian units seized control of a section of the road on the southern outskirts of Varvarivka and advanced toward Zelene.
Attempts at Ukrainian counterattacks are noted in the area of Dobropillia and north of it, in the territory of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in Tykhyi.
Siversk Sector
Russian units are carrying out successful offensive operations in Siversk and the surrounding area. As a result of intense urban combat, Russian forces have taken control of more than half of the city. Fighting continues in the area of the high-rise buildings on Suvorova and Dolomitnikov Streets in the southwest part of the city. Units are also operating beyond the railway.
Russian assault groups control the northern part of the city, including Victory Park and the Kazan Church. In the west, Russian units have reached the Bakhmutka River near School No. 1. There is ongoing fighting in the area around the railway station and the traction substation. The southern part of the city, up to Luhova Street, is also under control.
Southeast of Dronivka, Russian units advanced along the railway to the Bakhmutka River. They are fighting to take control of a strongpoint on the slopes of a hill near the tract. South of Platonivka, Russian units have taken control of a section of the highway to Siversk from Zakotne. Russian units have reached the eastern part and northern outskirts of Zakotne on the Siverskyi Donets River.
South of Siversk, Russian units advanced in Sviato-Pokrovske. The Ukrainian garrison continues to hold strongpoints on the heights above Sviato-Pokrovske and Reznikivka. These positions are being attacked by aircraft, artillery, and drones. Further south, in the direction of Kramatorsk, fighting continues to control the fortified area around the settlements of Fedorivka, Pazeno, Vasiukivka, Sako, and Vanzetti.
Kramatorsk Sector
The Russian army is advancing. Ukrainian units were dislodged from Orekhovo-Vasylivka. Then, attacks began on positions on the heights between Novomarkove and Mynkivka, as well as on the fortified area north of Orekhovo-Vasylivka. Further north, there is ongoing fighting to take control of the fortified area east of Pazeno and Vasiukivka. Attacks toward Nykyforivka persist. Responsive actions aimed at restraining the advance are underway.
In the area northwest of Chasiv Yar, Ukrainian units have taken control of most of Veroliubivka.
Pokrovsk Sector
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian units are continuing their operation to establish control over the Myrnohrad area. They are developing an offensive in the Hrishyne area while simultaneously repelling attempts to break the siege north of Pokrovsk.
In Myrnohrad, Russian units have dislodged formations from the fortified area to the south of the city and have taken control of the infectious diseases hospital complex. The operation to control the fortified area south of Nakhimova and Michurina streets is ongoing. The «Zakhidnyi» microdistrict is now fully under control. Assault groups advanced into the northern part of the city, reaching the high-rise buildings of the 40th quarter and exerting pressure on all areas of high-rise development.
Fighting began in the garage cooperative southwest of the slag heap of Mine No. 3, with an advance toward the «Molodizhnyi» microdistrict from the southwest. Units are also breaking through to the 40th quarter from the west. Attacks are ongoing in the area of the T-0504 highway and the railway, which threatens to split the northern part of the city in two. Units attacking from the northern outskirts are fighting for Lymanska Street and have reached Sonechna and Filatova Streets.
There is fierce fighting on the eastern outskirts of the city in the «Molodizhnyi» and «Skhidnyi» microdistricts. Retaining «Skhidnyi» maintains a communication corridor for the defenders with strongpoints between Myrnohrad and formations north and south of the T-0504 highway near Novoekonomichne. However, this corridor continues to narrow.
West of Myrnohrad, Russian forces have driven Ukrainian troops out of Rivne and are engaged in combat on the southwestern outskirts of Svitloe and for a strongpoint north of Svitloe, between Rivne and the Zaporizkyi Khutir.
North of Pokrovsk, Russian units have seized control of strongpoints south of the road to Hrishyne, restoring control over the road and two farms north of it. Fighting continues for the third farm, which is the closest to Hrishyne.
In Hrishyne, units are advancing north and south of the Tsentralnyi Pond. The exit from Hrishyne towards Rodynske is under fire control. Units north of Kotlyne are approaching Hrishyne and Novoserhiivka from the south. To reach the railway and the road to Pavlohrad, they need to take control of one more strongpoint in a tree line.
The supply of the grouping in Myrnohrad is carried out using drons and ground-based unmanned platforms, but this method is insufficient.
Sumy Sector
In the Sumy sector, a reduction in the intensity of combat operations is observed due to weather conditions. Ukrainian units are regrouping and reinforcing their positions. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi visited the command post of the Ukrainian grouping, which may indicate the direction’s priority for the Ukrainian authorities.
Assault groups advanced three sections of the front, a total distance of up to 300 meters. Aviation strikes and heavy flamethrower systems destroyed positions in the Andriivka and Sadky areas.
Conclusion
The operational situation on the main sectors remains characterized by active offensive actions. The most significant successes have been achieved on the Siversk and Pokrovsk sectors. Near Siversk, units have taken control of more than half of the city and are fighting in the central districts. They have also created conditions for a complete encirclement by controlling key roads and advancing in Sviato-Pokrovske. In Myrnohrad, the operation has entered its final phase. Units have taken control of the «Zakhidnyi» microdistrict and advanced to the main high-rise development areas. The supply corridor continues to narrow, and the offensive continues on the outer ring in the Hrishyne area.
On the Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia sectors, a tactic of methodical advancement and consolidation on new lines is observed despite the Ukrainian army’s attempts at responsive actions in the Dobropillia, Tykhyi, and Huliaipole areas. On the Kramatorsk sector, the offensive is progressing with the capture of Orekhovo-Vasylivka, and fighting continues for Veroliubivka and the surrounding heights. On the Sumy sector, activity has temporarily decreased due to weather conditions; however, the tactic of gradual advancement along tree lines remains.
The overall strategic picture shows coordinated pressure on several important fronts. This pressure combines intensive urban assaults in Siversk and Myrnohrad with constant forceful impact and the expansion of bridgeheads in the outskirts of the front.
Along with the operational changes at the front, Western media outlets are beginning to publish assessments suggesting that the current operational situation is fundamentally altering diplomatic prospects. According to the German newspaper «Der Tagesspiegel», Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may have no choice but to accept territorial concessions as a basis for negotiations. The author of the article claims that Kyiv’s position is weakened by corruption scandals and failures on the battlefield, including the loss of key settlements, declining morale, and increased desertion within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The authors of these publications believe that refusal to engage in dialogue will only lead to greater dependence on Western aid, further weakening Ukraine and deteriorating its future negotiating position.
The Russian side also comments on the situation in the context of the likelihood of negotiations. The Kremlin states that setbacks on the battlefield should prompt Ukraine to engage in dialogue immediately. Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, points out that Ukrainian units are suffering heavy losses and rapidly losing combat capability. He cites casualty figures that paint a «difficult, if not catastrophic», picture of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ position at the front. The progressive development of the operational situation on the ground creates a direct context and pressure for possible political decisions, according to various sides.
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