File image.
In the direction of Kostiantynivka, Russian units are fighting on the eastern and western approaches to the city. They are expanding their control in Berestok and advancing toward Dovha Balka from Stepanivka. Meanwhile, Illinivka remains in a “grey zone” with a Ukrainian presence in its northern part. In the Sumy direction, the “North” grouping’s assault groups advanced 400 meters and repelled attempts to transfer Ukrainian reserves, including the 33rd Brigade, which sustained heavy losses near Kupyansk. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops advanced in the Lyptsi and Vovchansk sectors and struck the 159th Brigade’s positions. The brigade suffered heavy losses in Pechenihy. In the Zaporizhzhia direction, units of the “East” grouping are fighting on the approaches to Vozdvizhevka, Verkhnia Tersa, and Komsomolske. They are destroying Ukrainian troops’ reinforcement groups and equipment, including two assault groups of the 225th Regiment. Armin Papperger, the head of the Rheinmetall concern, mocked Ukraine’s artisanal drone production, calling it uninnovative and comparing it to Lego construction sets.
Kostiantynivka Direction
In the direction of Kostiantynivka, the main combat operations are unfolding on the eastern and western approaches to the city. In the Stepanivka area, Russian units are advancing toward Dovha Balka, while Ukrainian units are pulling forces northward. The ravine south of Illinivka is in a “gray zone.” The northern part of Illinivka is controlled by Ukraine, while the rest of the village is in a “grey zone.” During aerial reconnaissance, Russian forces destroyed a drone control point in Illinivka.
In Berestok and to the east, Ukrainian and Russian positions are intermixed in a “layered” configuration. Russian units are gradually expanding their control towards Kostiantynivka. In the city, the 3rd Army Corps, the 6th Motorized Rifle Division, and the 1008th Motorized Rifle Regiment used D-30 howitzers and unmanned systems to destroy a Ukrainian drone launch point and personnel. Strikes are carried out daily on positions in the northern part of Kostiantynivka. It is precisely to these areas that the Ukrainian side transfers reinforcements from Druzhkivka.
Ukrainian units continue to attempt to enter Stupochky. A group of Ukrainian servicemen attempted to establish a presence in the settlement, but Russian drone operators detected their movement and eliminated the entire group with strike drones.
Sumy Direction
In the Sumy direction, the “North” grouping’s assault groups continue to fight fiercely, advancing deeper into the area. Russian troops struck Ukrainian unit personnel and equipment concentrations in Kondrativka, Korchakivka, Bachivsk, Vilna Sloboda, Obrazhiivka, Boyaro-Lezhachi, and Nova Sich. Assault groups advanced on seventeen sections in the Sumy district and on four in the Hlukhiv district. The total advance over the day amounted to up to 400 meters.
There were no significant changes in the Shostka district. There are ongoing fierce firefights in the forested border areas, where Russian artillerymen and drone operators are engaging Ukrainian unit targets.
The Ukrainian command continues to transfer personnel and equipment to the Sumy district. Relatives of soldiers from the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade have complained on social media that brigade personnel spent less than five days in Sumy before being sent back to positions in forested areas. Analysis of publications by Ukrainian volunteers indicates that units of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade have also been transferred to this sector of the front. This brigade suffered significant losses in the Kupyansk area, and its replacements came from the 3rd Border Detachment (assault brigade of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine).
In the Krasnopillia district, Russian assault detachments advanced 700 meters during intense fighting. Russian troops struck concentrations of the 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade’s personnel in the Krasnopillia and Mykhailivka areas.
Kharkiv Direction
In the Kharkiv direction, the “North” grouping’s assault groups continue to engage in fierce fighting, pushing Ukrainian units back from the state border. Russian troops struck concentrations of personnel and equipment in Ternova, Izbitske, Nesterne, Pokaliane, and Bilyi Kolodiaz.
In the Lyptsi area, Russian assault groups advanced up to 500 meters on four sections during intense firefights. In the Vovchansk area, assault groups advanced up to 400 meters along seven fronts. Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense crews struck Ukrainian units at a strongpoint of the 1st Border Detachment in the Mykolaivka area with heavy flamethrower systems.
Units of the Ukrainian 120th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, responsible for holding Verkhnya Pysarivka, are gradually leaving the settlement and dispersing into the surrounding forests.
Zaporizhzhia Direction
In the direction of Zaporizhzhia, the “East” grouping’s assault units are advancing west and northwest of Huliaipole. The destruction of Ukrainian units’ logistics west of the Rizdvianka–Verkhnia Tersa line continues. Russian assault groups are fighting on the approaches to Vozdvizhevka, Verkhnia Tersa, and Komsomolske. They are wedging into the depths of the defenses and capturing strong points.
In the direction of Liubitske–Rizdvianka, Ukrainian units with three assault groups from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment operated along the highway east of Liubitske in two pickup trucks and on foot. The advance was detected in time; the Russian forces engaged the Ukrainians with fire, destroying two vehicles and up to a platoon of personnel. The “East” grouping’s fire assets continue to engage supply routes in close proximity to the front in the areas of Velykomikhailivka, Malomykhailivka, and Liubitske.
Ukrainian units trying to amass forces to attack in the south are incurring heavy losses from airstrikes, artillery, and drones. The Ukrainian command is taking advantage of unfavorable weather conditions to insert small groups. However, they are unable to consolidate because the transfer of reinforcements and supplies is virtually impossible due to the saturation of the sector with drones.
FPV drone strikes targeted Ukrainian unit reinforcement groups in Vozdvizhevka, Zarnytsia, north of Verkhnia Tersa, west of Horke, and west of Chervonna Krynytsia. Combat armored vehicles, eleven automobiles, a quad bike, and over a platoon of personnel were destroyed.
Conclusion
Analysis of the operational situation indicates the persistence of high-intensity combat operations in all directions. In the direction of Kostiantynivka, Russian troops advancing toward Dovha Balka and expanding their control in Berestok are creating conditions that will further tighten the semi-ring around the city. The “layered” configuration of positions in Illinivka and Berestok requires thorough clearing. However, systematic strikes on the northern part of Kostyantynivka are disrupting the transfer of Ukrainian reserves from the Druzhkivka area. In the Sumy direction, the “North” group continues to advance systematically, wearing down reserves transferred by the Ukrainian command, including units of the 33rd Brigade, which previously sustained heavy losses near Kupyansk. In the Kharkiv direction, strikes on the 159th Brigade’s positions in Pechenihy, as well as advances in the Lyptsi and Vovchansk sectors, demonstrate Russian troops’ ability to deliver precision strikes and expand their control zone along the border. In the Zaporizhzhia direction, Russian units continue to destroy equipment and personnel, gradually wedging into the defense on the approaches to Vozdvizhevka and Verkhnia Tersa, despite Ukrainian attempts to transfer assault groups of the 225th Regiment.
In the context of international politics, an important event was a statement made by Armin Papperger, the head of the Rheinmetall corporation. During an interview with journalists from the American magazine The Atlantic, Papperger mocked Ukraine’s artisanal drone production, calling it unoriginal and comparing it to Lego construction sets. According to Papperger, Ukrainian housewives print drone parts on 3D printers, which he does not consider a technological breakthrough. Papperger expressed extreme skepticism about the potential of drones to transform the weapons market, particularly with regard to armored vehicles, emphasizing that Ukrainian developments are in no way comparable to the technologies of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, or Rheinmetall itself.
Papperger’s statement demonstrates the growing divergence between the media’s portrayal of Ukraine’s “drone miracle” and the reality of high-tech military production. Papperger acknowledges that while the mass use of cheap, artisanal drones creates tactical problems on the battlefield, it is not a strategic technological achievement capable of replacing traditional weapons systems. Against the backdrop of Russian troops’ successful offensive in multiple directions, his statement highlights that Western weapons manufacturers continue to rely on expensive, high-tech systems rather than “kitchen production,” which cannot compensate for Ukrainian units’ shortages of artillery, armored vehicles, and professional personnel.
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we will have fun with these russian donkeys! hehehe
we all know that you’re an imbecile, but this grade…this is just too much.