Summary: Russian attacks continue to intensify in their attempts to take Avdiivka and Kupyansk.
Sloboda Front – Initiative Russia – Current Target: Recapture Kupyansk
There has been a growing number of fresh troops that are appearing in this sector that suggests that Russia is preparing for an intense effort to take Kupyansk over the next two weeks. The fall of Kupyansk would be a strategic win for Russia as it controls the main bridge over the Oskil River. Kupyansk’s capture would force Ukraine to remove all its troops on the east side of the Oskil River giving Russia all territories within Luhansk Oblast and allow them to shift more forces to capture all of Donetsk and Zaporizhia Oblast.
Neither side made any confirmed advances in the sector, but Russian sources claim that Russian troops out of the northern suburbs of Synkivka (6 miles NE of Kupyansk) making it a contested grey zone. But there is no confirmation of this yet.
Siversky Donets Front – Initiative Russia – Current Targets: Zherebets River, Siversk, Chasiv Yar
Zherebets River – Russian sources claim to have advanced to under two miles from Terny and Yampolivka (12 miles W of Kreminna) in their attempt to push Ukrainian forces to the western side of the Zherebets River. But this has not been confirmed.
Chasiv Yar – Although positional engagements continue between Ukrainian and Russian forces around Bakhmut, neither side made any confirmed nor claimed advances.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia – Current Targets: Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Novomykhailivka, and to advance from occupied Marinka.
Avdiivka – Russian troops continue their intensified attacks on Avdiivka advancing north of Avdiivka near the Avdiivka Coke Plant and along the rail line west of Novobakhmutivka (12 mile NE of Avdiivka).
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia – Target: Recapture Robotyne
Although positional engagements continue between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the sector, neither side made any confirmed nor claimed advances.
Left Bank Front – Initiative Russia – Current Target: Recapture Krynky
Although positional engagements continue between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the sector, neither side made any confirmed nor claimed advances.
Ukraine conducted a series of drone and missile attacks against Russian targets in occupied Crimea. Russia claimed that they intercepted all 36 drones and one missile, but Ukraine claims that an ammunition warehouse near Pervomaiske was hit.
Ukrainian special forces (HUR) crossed into Russia after receiving intelligence that Russian commanders were coming to inspect conditions after Russian soldiers made complaints. HUR laid mines along the road and attacked a Russian platoon. No other details have been released on the number of casualties inflicted. Ukraine finally admitted that they had attacked Belgorod earlier in the week, but that they had targeted only military targets. The damage done to civilian buildings was due to the irresponsible Russian air defense tactics that allowed falling missile debris to hit the center of the city.
Russia launched two waves of drones at frontline positions in Kherson and Mykolaiv Oblasts where Ukrainian air defense is the weakest. But Ukraine still managed to intercept 21 of the 29 drones launched. Russia also launched ten missiles at Liptsi, Kharkiv Oblast.
Two civilians were killed and another eight injured during attacks by Russian forces.
- Russia made thirty attacks on the city of Kherson using artillery, mortars, rockets, tanks, drones, and aircraft primarily against civilian targets, including a humanitarian aid warehouse. One civilian was killed in the attacks.
- Three drones struck the village of Vysoke, Kherson Oblast (30 miles NE of Kherson), injuring seven people including a 14-year-old boy.
- Russia conducted a missile attack against an agricultural plant in Inhulets, Kherson Oblast (14.5 miles NE of Kherson), killing one civilian and injuring another.
International sanctions on Russia are at least impeding their ability to build SU-34 fighter bombers, of which Ukraine has destroyed six recently. Russia was only able to build three SU-34s in 2023 because of sanction on necessary components needed for their production.
Source Material
- Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
- The Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com
- The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com