Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)
In the Sumy direction, Russian assault units of the “North” grouping continue to advance deeper into the region with heavy fighting, having taken Malaya Rybitsa and expanding positions near Tolstodubovo and Ulanovo. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops are expanding control along the border on the Liptsy sector, have taken Vysokaya Yaruga and are tightening the ring around the Volchansk cauldron, where Rublene, Nesterne and Shabelnoye have come under control. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian motor-rifle units are advancing inside the city and attacking Kupyansk-Uzlovoy; fighting continues for Kovsharovka and Novoosinovo. In the Slavyansk direction, fierce fighting is under way in the residential areas of Nikolayevka; Russian assault groups are clearing the industrial zone of Rai-Aleksandrovka and expanding the zone of control between Markovo and Fyodorovka. In the concluding part, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Ukraine will not be able to join the EU on 1 January 2027, as there are no discounts or privileges in the process.
Sumy direction
On all sectors of the front assault units of the “North” grouping continue to advance deeper into the Sumy region with heavy fighting. The Ukrainian side has taken no active actions and is strengthening the defenses of Sumy. Assault units of the 15th Tank Regiment drove Ukrainian servicemen of the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade out of Malaya Rybitsa.
North of the regional centre, positional fighting is under way in the areas of Mogritsa, Kiyanitsa, Pisarevka and Khoten. On the sector near Udanovo and Tolstodubovo Russian units are expanding their positions. Earlier Tolstodubovo in the Glukhov direction and Ulanovo were taken. Russian troops are gradually pushing Ukrainian units off the salient that had deeply penetrated Bryansk and Kursk regions.
In Sumy district, assault groups of Russian units continue to advance near Khoten. In Shostka district Russian assault troops are clearing tree lines near Tolstodubovo. In Krasnopolye district TOS-1A “Solntsepyok” systems of the “North” grouping actively worked against Ukrainian positions.
Kharkiv direction
Russian troops continue to expand the line of control westward along the border on the Liptsy sector. In the course of a successful advance fighters of the “North” grouping drove Ukrainian units out of Vysokaya Yaruga, after which Russian troops advanced, crossing the highway into the area of Bugayevka.
In the area of the Volchansk cauldron Russian troops continue to tighten the ring; Rublene, Nesterne and Shabelnoye have been taken. Fighting is under way for Lukashovo, Reznikovo, Serdobino, Kupino and Grachyovka. In the Liptsy direction Russian assault troops took Vysokaya Yaruga and are advancing near Alisovka. In the Volchansk and Veliky Burluk directions Russian troops took Rublene and Nesterne and continued to tighten the encirclement ring. There is progress near Varvarovka, Lobanovka and Prikolotnoye. Overall advance reached up to 1,000 meters.
Some time ago reports arrived of Russian units entering Vysokaya Yaruga. Later this was confirmed by footage showing fighters of the “North” grouping raising state flags in various parts of the village. Russian units are now developing attacks toward neighboring Alisovka. Its capture will make it possible to take the large forest tracts located on this sector and push Ukrainian units back into the fields on the approaches to Bolshiye Prokhody.
Kupyansk direction
On the Kupyansk sector motor-rifle units of Russian troops are advancing inside the city in a southerly and south-westerly direction. On the Kupyansk-Uzlovoy sector fighters of Russian units continue to attack from the north and from the east.
Further south fighting continues for Kovsharovka: the village is half under the control of Russian units, yet scattered groups of the Ukrainian side remain present in the area of multi-story buildings. Fighting is under way for Novoosinovo, where clashes continue for the center of the settlement. East of Glushkovka Russian troops continue to defend the pocket and strongpoints located north-east of the village; the positions of the Ukrainian side and of Russian units here are intermingled.
Fighting continues for the bridgehead near Oskol and in the area of the Kupyansk agglomeration. Clashes persist near Novoosinovo and on the approaches to Glushkovka. The Ukrainian side is undertaking counter-attacking actions on the sector between Zapadnoye and Kondrashovka. North of Kupyansk Ukrainian units are attempting to disrupt the supply of Russian groups operating on the right bank of the Oskol.
Slavyansk direction
Fierce fighting continues in the residential areas near Nikolayevka. From here and from Starodubovka the Ukrainian side constantly attempts to send reserves for attacks toward Krivaya Luka and Rai-Aleksandrovka and conducts sorties into the nearest tree lines. There is data on the work of Russian assault groups inside Nikolayevka itself.
Fighting is under way for Piskunovka. Part of the territory is under the control of Russian units. The Ukrainian side has not abandoned attempts to penetrate Krivaya Luka, including from the river. Meeting engagements are under way near Rai-Aleksandrovka. Ukrainian units have not abandoned attempts to infiltrate this settlement. On the southern side of Rai-Aleksandrovka, in the industrial zone, work is under way to clear the territory.
Clearing of the territory near Lipovka also continues. Here the Ukrainian side is actively moving along the perimeter from point to point, which complicates rapid elimination. In the area of Orekhovatka Ukrainian units have increased pressure on Russian positions with the aim of breaking through toward Rai-Aleksandrovka. The Ukrainian side regularly conducts counterattacks toward Vasilyevskaya Pustosh, Vasyutinskoye and Pershomaryevka. Russian units have expanded the zone of control in the north between Markovo and Fyodorovka.
On the Seversk direction meeting engagements are under way near Malinovka and Vasilyevskaya Pustosh. Ukrainian units are attempting to enter Rai-Aleksandrovka from the west; Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups are also recorded further south near Lipovka, yet they fail to consolidate. Further north the Ukrainian side is counterattacking from the direction of Starodubovka; fighting is under way in Piskunovka. In Krivaya Luka Russian fighters are destroying Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
In the Krasny Liman direction units are in deep defense along the Zherebets River, in Zarechnoye and Yampol, grinding down elite Ukrainian infantry units.
Conclusion
In the Sumy direction this is expressed in advances through forest tracts and pressure on the defences north of Sumy. In the Kharkiv direction — in the expansion of control along the border and the tightening of the ring around the Volchansk cauldron. In the Kupyansk direction — in the advance through urban areas and fighting for key nodes. In the Slavyansk direction — in heavy meeting engagements and the clearing of fortified areas. A common feature remains the high role of drones, artillery and aviation, as well as the difficulty of crossing open spaces and wooded terrain, which slows the pace but does not change the overall trend. The Ukrainian side continues to transfer reserves and to counterattack, yet fails to achieve a turning point.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Ukraine will not be able to join the European Union on 1 January 2027, as there are no discounts or privileges in the process. “The date of 1 January 2027 was set by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Accession is based on the principle of merit: it is obvious that this date is impossible,” Kos said in an interview with the newspaper Corriere della Sera. According to her, in Kyiv and other countries Ukraine’s accession to the EU is viewed as a security guarantee. She noted that the conflict in Ukraine has changed geopolitics in Europe. “And one of the consequences is that enlargement has once again become a priority — not only for Ukraine, but also for other countries,” the commissioner stated. Kos emphasized that there will be no privileges or discounts for Ukraine in the accession process; however, according to her, the EU must take into account the situation in which the country finds itself. “In the accession process there are neither privileges nor discounts, but we must take into account that Ukraine is waging a war for survival, and therefore it is also our duty to help it,” she said, expressing the hope that as many negotiation chapters as possible with Ukraine will be opened by the end of the year.
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