File image.
Russian forces have taken control of the Novopavlovka settlement on the Pokrovsk axis. The 36th Separate Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade has captured Alekseevka. Russian units have resumed offensive operations in the Kramatorsk area. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has demanded that the European Union shift its focus from Ukraine to the EU’s internal economic problems.
Pokrovsk Direction
Significant developments have been noted on the Pokrovsk axis. The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported establishing control over Novopavlovka, a settlement located on the southeastern outskirts of Krasnoarmiisk. This success is linked to recent advances by Russian units in the southern part of the city and the Lazurny microdistrict.
Control over Novopavlovka is expected to facilitate further advances in the south-eastern part of Krasnoarmiisk. Meanwhile, Russian troops are putting pressure on the eastern part of Dymytrov (Myrnohrad), where reports suggest that defenses have been breached in settlements near the city’s eastern outskirts.
Dnipropetrovsk Direction:
On 15 October, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the establishment of control over the settlement of Alekseevka in the Dnipropetrovsk region. According to reports, units of the 36th Separate Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade overcame defensive lines and took control of a defensive area spanning more than eight square kilometers following combat.
Active combat continues in the Huliaipole area. Russian assault units are advancing in Novomykolaivka along the eastern bank of the Yanchur River and have expanded their control zone by more than 700 metres. They have also advanced up to 500 meters and occupied new positions on the northern outskirts of Novovasylivka.
Kharkiv Direction:
In Vovchansk, Russian forces are continuing to expand their bridgehead on the left bank of the Vovcha River. They have advanced approximately 500 meters in the area of the Synelnykove Forest and on the left bank of the river, clearing around 30 buildings in the process.
In the Melove-Khatnie sector, assault groups advanced 500 meters along tree lines. According to Russian sources, positions in the Kolodezne, Bolohivka and Artilne areas were destroyed by aviation and artillery strikes. A workshop producing FPV drones in Kharkiv is reported to have been destroyed by a drone strike.
Sumy Direction:
On the Sumy axis, Russian aviation and artillery have been targeting identified Ukrainian unit positions and concentrations. According to reports, assault groups of naval infantry advanced 150 meters in tree line areas near Kondrativka.
According to Russian sources, a Ukrainian 71st Separate Assault Brigade serviceman was captured during the fighting. It is reported that his requests for evacuation after being wounded were ignored by the Ukrainian command.
There has been an increase in activity by Ukrainian formations. Reports indicate the deployment of three assault groups from the 158th Separate Mechanised Brigade to the Kondrativka area, as well as the reinforcement of forward groups along the Sadky-Mohrytsia line in the Yunakivka area. The establishment of positions by units of the 140th Special Operations Centre to the southeast, and the occupation of defensive lines by paratroopers of the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade east of Yunakivka, have also been recorded. The involvement of such units in defending the Sumy axis indicates the heightened importance of this sector for the Ukrainian command.
Kramatorsk Direction:
Following a pause, the Russian Armed Forces have resumed an active offensive in this sector of the front. Russian assault groups to the south of Novomarkove have crossed the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal. The enemy is attempting to counterattack with ground robotic drones.
The front sector from the southeastern outskirts of Markove to Orikhovo-Vasylivka has been cleared, with ongoing strikes on areas close to the front line. The destruction of a deployment point in Tykhonivka has been reported.
Conclusion:
As of 15 October 2025, the operational situation is characterized by sustained, high-intensity hostilities on most fronts. Key events today included statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding control being established over the settlements of Novopavlovka in the Donetsk and Alekseevka in the Dnipropetrovsk region, indicating continued offensive momentum of Russian units.
Significant advances were noted on the Kharkiv axis in Vovchansk, where assault groups expanded the bridgehead on the left bank of the Vovcha River and advanced through urban areas. The situation remains tense on the Sumy axis, where Ukrainian formations have been activated and are transferring reserves in an attempt to launch counterattacks. The resumption of active assault operations on the Kramatorsk axis, following a pause, indicates an expansion of the geography of offensive operations.
On the diplomatic front, tensions are rising in Brussels ahead of the EU summit on 23–24 October. On Wednesday, 15 October, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly stated his position, demanding that the European Union shift its focus from Ukraine to the bloc’s internal economic problems, such as the crisis in the automotive industry and high energy prices. During a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, António Costa, Fico expressed his surprise that Ukraine was once again the priority topic, making it clear that he was not willing to consider new sanctions packages against Russia until concrete solutions to the EU’s pressing problems were in place. He promised to present his own specific proposals on these issues and stated that Slovakia could cause difficulties in passing the 19th sanctions package against Russia, which includes measures targeting Russian LNG, oil infrastructure and the «shadow fleet».
This diplomatic stance by Slovakia complicates the EU’s unified position further. Observers note that Fico is repeating a tactic used to block previous sanctions. Furthermore, Slovakia may not be acting alone this time — Austria has also made a separate demand relating to the lifting of sanctions on the assets of the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, in order to compensate its Raiffeisen bank for losses. This has received a mixed response from other member states. Thus, although the summit officially intends to discuss financial aid to Ukraine and pressure on Russia, serious internal disagreements are likely to arise. Unanimous approval from all 27 EU members is required to adopt the 19th sanctions package, and under the current circumstances, this seems unlikely.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
imho woked as junior toilet scrubber for my hillbilly division in west viginny but was terminated for licking 10 yr old mulatto peniz
after you finnish you can lyck my goats nutz and arsholes too
i like the smell of how that sounds