The front line in Ukraine is moving rapidly. Since June 25, Russian forces have broken through Ukrainian defenses north of Sumy. The Russian army has broken through the general defensive line of the Ukrainian Armed Forces north of Sumy, occupying Ivolzhans’ke and penetrating a wooded area where Ukrainian forces are having increasing difficulty maintaining a coherent front. The offensive is developing simultaneously in several sectors: assault groups are advancing towards Kyyanytsya, Pysarivka, and Khotin’, while the marines, after driving Ukrainian forces from Myropillya and Zapsillya, have advanced towards Velyka Rybytsya.
In this context, Oleksandr Syrs’kyj has announced the intention to form new brigades, citing the threat from Belarus. However, to do so, Kiev needs manpower, for which it has virtually no other options.
Amid ongoing Ukrainian counterattacks north of Lyman, Ukrainian forces are conducting clearing operations in Lyman itself against Russian infiltrators. Following last week’s clashes, Ukrainian forces have captured most of the western outskirts, some areas of the eastern and southeastern outskirts, and part of the city center. Ukrainian forces recaptured the village of Ridkodub, in the direction of Lyman, Donetsk Oblast (Kramatorsk District). The third battle for Ridkodub lasted about six months.
Russian forces remain present in some areas of the city center, near Lake Lyman, as well as in the northern, eastern, and southern parts of the city. Russia has never established a permanent presence in any of these areas, limiting itself to infiltration.
Over the past week, the situation for Ukrainian forces in Kostyantynivka has continued to deteriorate, while Russian forces continue to capture the remaining areas of the city still under Ukrainian control. Furthermore, Russian forces have intensified assault operations on the city’s flanks in preparation for an advance towards Druzhkivka once Kostyantynivka is captured.
West of Kostyantynivka, Russian forces have captured a series of positions at the treeline southwest of Illinivka, from which they are infiltrating the eastern part of Dovha Balka. Other assault groups are infiltrating Dovha Balka from the south and attempting to outflank it from the east, advancing further north towards the chain of reservoirs. Furthermore, the Russians have resumed assault operations west of Stepanivka, advancing towards fortified Ukrainian positions at the treeline southwest of Dovha Balka.
In the northwestern part of Kostyantynivka, Russian forces have completed the capture of the remaining residential area south of the Kryvyi Torets River tributary, following the withdrawal of Ukrainian special forces. From there, they crossed the tributary and established themselves in the first blocks of the Novodmytrivka district, now attacking Ukrainian positions on the northwestern outskirts of Kostyantynivka, which have been subjected to intense shelling. Some assault groups and Defense Reduction Groups (DRGs) have reached the northwestern exit of Kostyantynivka and are attempting to enter the nearby village of Osykove. Other assault groups have cleared the western banks of the reservoirs and have linked up with other forces in the Novodmytrivka district.
In central Kostyantynivka, Russian forces continue to fight for the district, attempting to eliminate the last remaining Ukrainian soldiers west of the Kryvyi Torets River. Clashes continue for the nearby central industrial zones, where Russia is slowly completing clearing operations.
In the eastern part of Kostyantynivka, the Russians captured the train station and the adjacent private sector after Ukrainian forces retreated toward the stadium. Covering forces are currently maintaining the stadium area under Russian operational encirclement to allow the bulk of Ukrainian forces to retreat northwest, past the historic center, toward the northern outskirts. Additionally, Russian forces have advanced west of the tram depot, capturing several residential blocks southwest of the large forest.
In the northern part of Kostyantynivka, Russian forces have significantly expanded their zone of control, capturing numerous residential blocks and breaking through the lines to the three-story buildings north of the stadium. Here, they are heavily shelling the remaining Ukrainian forces resisting and attempting to retreat toward the northern outskirts. Other assault groups continue to attack Ukrainian strongholds. The city’s northern entrance, near the Novodmytrivka-Kostyantynivka road, is being attacked from the east and west, simultaneously attacking the three-story buildings from the south to physically isolate them.
Furthermore, heavy fighting continues for the historic center; however, due to the persistent presence of numerous Ukrainian positions overlapping with Russian ones, Russian forces have not yet managed to establish stable control over any of these areas. Nevertheless, attempts to infiltrate the highway continue to physically isolate the Ukrainian formations to the east and west, beyond the tributary of the Kryvyi Torets River, in the northernmost part of Kostyantynivka.
East of Kostyantynivka, the Russians have begun advancing east of Novodmytrivka, capturing several positions at the treeline north of the large forest. Infiltration attempts are now underway toward the eastern edge of the reservoir north of Novodmytrivka.
In the Chasiv Yar area, Russian forces have continued attacks in the Shevchenko district and against Ukrainian positions along the railway line to the west, so far without any confirmed success.
From Zaporizhia, military OSINT accounts claim that the Ukrainians still maintain control of Plavni.
Yesterday’s Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile attack in the northern Kherson region killed two employees of a Norwegian aid organization’s mine clearance team. Four other employees were injured.
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Graziella Giangiulio
