Neither Ukraine nor Russia made any significant territorial gains over the last two days, but both sides did make some limited advances. Each side is concentrating on three areas, with Ukraine working to open a fourth front. But Ukraine is pummeling Russian forces destroying two companies, a main battle tank, seven anti-aircraft systems, 12 artillery and mortar systems, and several trucks on Sunday alone. The Ukrainian use of cluster munitions is reigning terror on Russian troops whose intercepted telephone calls reveal their demoralization as they cry that they are all being killed.
- Russia 1 – Russia forces made some minimal advances towards Kupyansk.
- Russia 2 – Russian sources claim that Novoyehorivka was captured as well as Ukrainian fortified positions near Karmazynivka and crossed the Zherebets River. Russia continues to make exaggerated claims of advances in this region, but there is no confirmation of these reports. It has been confirmed that Russian forces made some advances in the Serebrianska Forest south of Kreminna.
- Russia 3 – Russia made no progress in capturing Marinka and Avdiivka.
- Ukraine 1 – Ukrainian forces continue to make some limited advances north and south of Bakhmut, most notably advancing towards Khromove (directly west of Bakhmut) and Andriivka (south of Bakhmut) and entering the western outskirts of Klishchiivka (south of Bakhmut). In the north, Ukrainian forces made some limited advances towards Orikhovo-Vasylivka.
- Ukraine 2 – Ukrainian forces have entered the northern outskirts of Staromaiorske and Priyutne.
- Ukraine 3 –Ukrainian forces made some limited advances south of Kamianske, and possibly towards Robotyne.
- Ukraine 4 – Ukrainian forces have established a beachhead on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River near Oleshky and are conducting reconnaissance near Hola Prystan. Heavy fighting continues for control over the river islands. Heavy fighting continues around the destroyed Antonivsky Bridge.
Russia continues its daily missile and drone attacks on the ports around Odesa to prevent the grain from being loaded onto ships for exports. On Sunday morning Russia fired 19 missiles but Ukraine air defenses shot down nine of them. Nineteen civilians were injured in the attack and the main Orthodox church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, was destroyed. Then on Monday morning a drone strike was launched against the Odesa region hitting the port of Reni on the Romanian border.
Ukraine conducted its own drone attack on Moscow damaging two residential buildings. The intended targets were government buildings, but both drones were shot down and the debris caused some damage. One drone fell only 500 meters of the Ministry of Defense headquarters and only 200 meters from the Russian General Staff Main Directorate. Ukraine vows that more attacks on Moscow are coming. Ukraine also targeted Russian military targets in Crimea hitting an ammunition depot in Dzhankoy region forcing residents within 5-kilometer radius to evacuate the area. The airfield in Vesele was hit injuring three people. And explosions were reported near Krasnohvardiiske.
Igor Girkin, who once led the breakaway Republic of Donetsk, was arrested and charged with extremism after he criticized President Putin of failures of leadership. His Angry Patriots Club erupted in protests around the country with several of their leaders arrested as well. Putin is fearing for his own survival and is moving to eliminate any opposition to his presidential re-election campaign next year.
Russia is increasing the fine for draft dodging ten times from 3000 rubles ($33) to 30,000 rubles ($330).
The Wagner Group forces continue arriving in Belarus with their number now standing around 3500 troops. But they were forced to turn over their heavy weapons to the Russian Ministry of Defense and pose no real threat to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had an odd meeting on Sunday meant to spook NATO countries. Lukashenko assured Putin that he would keep the Wagner Group forces under control, even though they have requested to march on Warsaw claimed Lukashenko. Both Putin and Lukashenko alleged that Poland was planning on betraying Ukraine and taking Western Ukraine for themselves. They pledged their support to Ukraine if that were to happen. Putin claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive was over, and it was a failure with Lukashenko adding that it never really happened in the first place.
Poland responded by announcing the deployment of a battalion to be stationed on the Belarusian-Polish border.
International Atomic Energy Agency monitors have confirmed that Russia has planted anti-personnel mines on the reactors at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. The monitors said if exploded, it will not create any radiation disaster as the reactors are made to withstand attacks.