Summary: Positional fighting continues but very little change on the ground.
Situation On The Ground And Air
Sloboda Front – Initiative Russia – Target: Recapture Kupyansk
Siversky Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia – Targets: Zherebets River, Siversk, & Chasiv Yar
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia – Targets: Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Novomykhailivka, & advance from occupied Marinka
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative None – Targets: Staromaiorske, Urozhaine, & Robotyne
Dnipro Left Bank Front – Initiative None – Target: Krynky
Positional fighting continues daily in all five sectors of the frontline. Here is a synopsis of confirmed and claimed advances since my last report (color coded for sectors)
Russia continues to claim that they have captured Tabaivka, while Ukraine acknowledges fighting around Tabaivka is being conducted, but that the settlement is still under Ukrainian control. Russian forces also claim to have advanced 0.5 mile towards Synkivka (6 miles NE of Kupyansk). None of these claims have been confirmed.
Russian forces have made confirmed advances towards Avdiivka from the southeast. Russian forces also claim to have advanced near Stepove (5 miles NW of Avdiivka), south of Novokalynove (8 miles N of Avdiivka), and along Voroshylova Street in Pervomaiske (7 miles SW of Avdiivka), but none of these are confirmed. Also unconfirmed are Russian claims of advancing towards Heorhiivka (3 miles NW of Marinka) and Novomykhailivka.
Russian forces made a confirmed advance north of Priyutne (10.5 miles SW of Velyka Novosilka).
Russian forces made a marginal gain within Krynky.
Human Cost Of The War
Russia launched eight drones and six missiles at civilian and infrastructure targets throughout eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense shot down all of the drones.
3 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 1 injured today from Russian attacks:
- Russia fired grad rockets at the border town of Znob-Novhorodske, Sumy Oblast. A home was hit killing a man and his wife inside. Another struck the post office killing a man and injuring another.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Army reported that Russian forces suffered 1070 casualties in fighting today.
Ukraine News
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense denied rumors that Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Valerii Zaluzhny had been dismissed or resigned. Ukrainian People’s Deputy Oleksii Honcharenko announced that Zaluzhny had resigned. Ukrainian People’s Deputy Boryslav Bereza claimed that he was dismissed by President Zelensky. What the truth is yet has not been confirmed.
Ukraine Ally Support
The European Union extended their sanctions against Russia for another six months.
The Netherlands provided $132 million in military aid to purchase ammunition and cybersecurity equipment.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymytro Kuleba met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Uzhhorod to prepare for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s first visit to Ukraine since 2010. President Zelensky invited him to come to Ukraine to discuss their differences as Orban has been a staunch ally of Russia.
Russia Ally Support
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met in St. Petersburg to sign three agreements that brings Belarus closer to its planned union with Russia. The agreements established joint scientific and technological development and the coordination of foreign affairs.
Source Materials
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
The Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com
The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com
Militaryland.net (maps)