RU POV: Russian and Ukrainian advances from Day 1185 to 1188 of the War - Suriyakmaps

To start this update off, we’re back in the Kursk border area in Tetkino. Ukrainian command has not yet given up on its attempt to try seize the border town, despite the heavy casualties they have sustained since attacks began on 6 May. Over the past two weeks Ukrainian infantry were able to marginally expand their control of the houses in Tetkino next to the border, however are struggling as they are bombed/shelled soon after trying to take up positions there. Its highly unlikely they will be able to make much more headway given the losses and poor progress so far, even when resorting to head-on mechanised attacks.

The situation has become bad enough for several prominent Ukrainian Officers to openly criticise the decision of Ukrainian high command to launch this incursion, including a Battalion Commander of the 47th Mechanised Brigade resigning due to “moronic tasks and idiotic losses” (another source).

There have also been a few other attempts along the border further east, but all failed (video 1, video 2, video 3, video 4, picture 1). Russian UCAVs have continued roaming freely over the border area, destroying more equipment (video 1, video 2).

Moving onto the northern side of the Kupyansk front, through late May Russia has increased their operations on the west side of the Oskil River, following a slowdown in April. Russian assault groups were able to expand their control of the treelines north of Kupyansk itself, as well as take over part of Kindrashivka (small town).

Whilst Russian soldiers certainly have reached Radkivka, the Russian MoD claim that they have taken the settlement is false, as it is still heavily contested. Russia would need to seize Kindrashivka first if they wish to capture and hold Radkivka.

Onto the Oskill River front, Russian assault groups have continued to slowly work their way through Ridkodub over the past week, seizing a number of houses on both streets. The Ukrainian garrison is heavily entrenched further into the settlement, hence the high number of FABs Russia has been dropping on the village.

On the southwest side of the Kostyantynivka front, Russian infantry groups have continued making quick progress through the after their capture of Nova Poltavka the previous week, seizing several more fields and treelines as they position themselves for an assault on Popiv Yar. Ukraine is still unable to effectively contest these groups, and is having to cede positions to the Russians, often without a fight.

Down to the Velyka Novosilka front, on the northeast side, the Russian assault of Odradne that began 2 days prior has already been completed, with their troops capturing the entirety of the village. As mentioned before, weeks of shelling/bombing rapidly wore down the Ukrainian garrison who quickly fell once ground attacks began. With the loss of Odradne, Ukraine was also unable to contest the surrounding fields and treelines, which Russia has now also taken.

To the southwest, the assault of Zelene Pole continues, with Russian assault groups making quick work in clearing most of the centre of the village and the adjacent farm. Ukraine now only has a minor presence on the northwest side of the settlement, which is unlikely to last long.

Back up to the Kursk/Sumy border area, this time further east where over the last few days Russian infantry have taken over the last buildings in Loknya, confirming full control of the settlement. They have also entered the far northern houses of Yunakivka, beginning the battle for Yunakivka, a key town in this area. Seizing Yunakivka would open the way for Russian attacks into the forest areas south and east, which directly link to Sumy city and many other settlements. The battle for Yunakivka will not be easy however, with Ukraine heavily dug in and with numerous drone teams in this region watching the area.

Following on from picture 4, starting with the northwest side, a Russian assault group made a push towards Popiv Yar, taking up positions in the treeline directly south of the village. To the east, another Russian group has been clearing the fields and treelines northwest of Novoolenivka, heading north towards Rusyn Yar.

Moving a bit east, yet another Russian assault group has been clearing fields and treelines northeast of Novoolenivka, getting within 300m of the first houses of Yablunivka. They likely entered Yablunivka later this day and will be trying to establish a foothold in the western houses.

Moving southwest, Russian troops in Malynivka finished clearing the last houses on the west side of the settlement, confirming full control of the village. They also entered the small village of Myrne and took over the first few houses on the east side. It remains to be seen if Russia will make a move on Mykolaivka (west of Malynivka) after they capture Myrne, or if they cut north to avoid dealing with the Ukrainian troops operating in Novoekonomichne (next to Mykolaivka).

Going back up to Sumy yet again, this time in Bilovody, where Russian troops have also wrapped up the battle for the settlement and captured the last houses. Bilovody does not have the same connectivity as Loknya, but its capture will help Russia isolate the Ukrainian garrison in Vodolahy, as well as put further pressure on the villages to the south.

Following on from picture 7, starting on the northwest side again, the Russian assault group mentioned in picture 7 have moved into Popiv Yar, taking up positions in the southern houses and are pushing north. Ukraine’s forces in this area are still disorganised, so are putting up minimal resistance. East of this, Russian recon groups have begun spreading out into the fields north of Novoolenivka and south of Yablunivka, taking advantage of the gaps in Ukrainian lines.

Southeast, the Russian assaults on Zorya, Hnativka and Stara Mykolaivka have all continued simultaneously. The western half of Zorya was seized quickly by Russian forces, with the Ukrainian garrison putting up almost no resistance as they tried to flee north. Hnativka was captured incredibly quickly, again with virtually no resistance, and in Stara Mykolaivka Russian assault groups were able to take most of the village and only have a few warehouses on the north side left to capture. To the northeast Russian forces in Romanivka have begun moving north, but are allegedly trying to advance west towards the warehouses on the other side of the highway.

Between all these different assault groups, Ukraine now only has a 2km for its remaining forces to escape the pocket, with estimates of dozens to a little under a hundred soldiers under threat of encirclement. These are only the ones who have not been able to escape, so does not include the many Ukrainian soldiers who tried to flee north to Oleksandro-Kalynove over the past 2 weeks. The soldiers remaining in the pocket still almost no chance of escaping alive, as Russia has the roads and fields locked down with drones.

Finally, to the southwest, Russian soldiers in Yelyzavetivka have begun to move out of the village and have started clearing the trenches and treelines to the northwest.

Following on from picture 5, on the northeast side, Russian troops have already begun moving west of Odradne, with the first recon groups making their way over to the outskirts of Komar. Ukraine is in quite the difficult positions here, as Komar is pressed up against the Mokri Yaly River, with Russia able to circumvent it to cut off their supplies from the north.

To the southwest, in Zelene Pole, Russian assault groups have moved out of the village and are trying to encircle the small remaining Ukrainian garrison by seizing the treelines on the north and west side of the settlement. It will be very difficult for them to escape to Temyrivka given the terrain and small gap they have left.

In adjacent Novopil, Russian assault groups have seized the southern side of the village and are wrapping their way up the western street. The small Ukrainian garrison here faces similar issues as the one in Zelene Pole, with no easy way to retreat to Temyrivka.

Following on from picture 8, Russian forces operating along the border have ramped up their operations over the past couple of days. On top of capturing the entirety of Volodymyrivka, they were also able to take over half of Vodolahy and capture a large area of fields and treelines around both settlements. Vodolahy will likely fall to Russia within days, leaving Novomykolaivka in an awkward spot next to two different sets of Russian assault groups.

Following on from picture 3, over the past few days there has been a lot of movement by Russian forces west of the Zherebets River. Going counterclockwise, a few infantry groups operating around Novomykhailivka have captured several fields and small forest areas north and west of the village. These groups aren’t part of the main Russian force here and are mostly just used cleanup/clearing, however they are laying the groundwork for a Russian push on Novyi Myr.

West of this, the Russian assault on Ridkodub continues, with their assaults groups taking a few more houses in the settlement. Interestingly Russia has sent a few small infantry groups into the fields and treelines on the east and south side of Ridkodub, partially flanking the settlement. Russian command is likely taking advantage on the focus fighting within the village to make gains around it, so they can cut off the garrison or just force them to retreat.

To the south, some more Russian infantry groups have made smaller gains on the north and south side of Zelena Dolyna, likely trying to flank that village as well. There little information on the Ukrainian troops in this area so I cannot judge how well they will hold the village.

On the Siversk front, Russian troops have captured the last couple of houses on the west side, now in control of the whole settlement. As I mentioned in the last post, this control is quite fragile, with Ukraine currently trying to counterattack to get back into the village.

Following on from picture 9, going clockwise but starting on the southwest side, the Russian troops that captured Myrolyubivka last week have begun to clear out the adjacent fields and treelines, trying to secure a buffer around the settlement.

To the northeast, Russian assault groups north of Malynivka have made quick progress, capturing several farms, a number of fields and many treelines. These groups are heading for Shevchenko Pershe, a small village that will likely fall quickly as Ukraine is just not in a position to hold this area.

Heading northeast again, Russian assault groups made a large series of advances across a wide front, from the highway all the way over to Yablunivka. On the highway side, the assault group that entered Popiv Yar the previous day has captured the village as well as the adjacent trench line. From what I could find reports suggest that Ukraine basically didn’t have a garrison for Popiv Yar, preferring to hold from the larger village of Poltavka. The few soldiers in Popiv Yar were quickly overwhelmed by the Russians, hence the quick progress.

In adjacent Poltavka, a different set of Russian assault groups entered the settlement and secured a foothold on the southern side. Clashes are currently ongoing as they try push deeper in and overwhelm the Ukrainian defenders. East of here the previously mentioned Russian recon groups have cleared a number of fields and treelines and are now more aggressively propping to the north towards Rusyn Yar.

East of that, the Russian assault group that got close to Yablunivka was confirmed to have entered the western houses and has secured a foothold in the town. On the opposite side of the river another Russian assault group has also entered western Yablunivka, meaning Russia is now advances on both sides.

To the south, Russian troops from Oleksandropil have faced little resistance as they clear the various trenches and treelines around the village. From reports and their movements, it looks like these groups intend to head north to join in the assault on Yablunivka, but will try clear as much of the fields and treelines south of the town as they can first.

To the southeast, Russian assault groups cleared the last warehouses in Stara Mykolaivka, confirming full control of the village. They also cleared a number of fields and treelines to the east, with the remainder of the pocket currently being cleared. Some Russian sources have jumped the gun to say the entirety of Zorya has been captured, but Russian forces are still clearing it (as of Day 1188). There is no word on the fate of the Ukrainian troops in the pocket.

On the Pokrovsk front, there has been quite a bit of back and forth over the last few days. Ukrainian troops were able to counterattack in Horikhove, retaking the eastern street and re-entering Troitske. At the same time however, Russian assault groups expanded their control south of Troitske and are trying to circumvent Ukrainian positions by moving west to the Dnipro-Donetsk border north of Horikhove.