Druzhkovka direction

Russian units are attacking Belitskoye and Mertsalovo, advancing toward Dobropolye, a key logistics hub for the Kiev forces’ grouping in the western part of the DPR.

North of Nikanorovka, Russian troops are assaulting Novoe Shakhovo and Volnoye.

Operational reports indicate the activity of Russian recon-sabotage groups near Dobropolye, the advance of Russian forces along the western bank of the Gruzskaya River north of Volnoye, and an assault on the village of Zolotoy Kolodyaz, located on the northeastern flank of Dobropolye, just 3.5 km from the Dobropolye–Kramatorsk highway. This poses a serious threat to the Kiev forces.

Russian troops are also encircling Shakhovo from the west, bypassing through the area of Pankovka.

For the Kiev forces’ defensive hub in Shakhovo and the northern part of Vladimirovka, the threat comes from a possible Russian flanking move to the northeast — specifically, north of Poltavka along the western bank of the river of the same name, with a potential encirclement of Shakhovo via Sofievka, located north of Shakhovo on the Druzhkovka highway.

The current situation suggests that Russian forces are continuing their offensive in the area while bypassing key defensive positions of the Kiev forces whenever possible.

To the east, fighting continues northwest of Rusin Yar and mop-up operations are underway in the lowlands west of Stepanovka, which covers the southwestern approaches to Konstantinovka.