RU POV: Russian and Ukrainian advances from Day 1613 to 1619 of the War - Suriyakmaps

Another standard opening in the Sumy border area, Russia has continued its small pushes around Bachivsk, with some soldiers moving into the Mala Slobidka farms on the way to Vilna Sloboda.

Onto the main Sumy front, starting on the west side Ukraine has been shown to be back in control of southern Ivolzhanske, where fighting is continuing. For a bit more context, Russia was visually confirmed to be in the southern side of that village on several occasions dating back to last month, however it seems like they weren’t able to consolidate and properly establish control, being forced back sometime in the past two weeks.

Adjacent to this other Russian troops took over most of Nova Sich and are attempting to capture the last houses and consolidate now. Ukraine is still present in the surrounding areas and neighbouring villages so may try to counterattack.

Out east, Russia launched new attacks into the forest areas near the international border over the past two weeks, taking over several of them and entering the village of Mohrytsya. Some Russian sources have already pre-emptively claimed its capture, but this isn’t supported by any evidence and fighting is ongoing.

Down to the other section of the Sumy border area, Russia has launched a few smaller attacks towards Turya and Stepok for the first time in a few months, looking to break into both villages.

Moving to the northern front, there have been some larger developments in several areas. Starting on the west side, Russian forces recaptured Vilcha after several months of back and forth following the smaller Ukrainian counteroffensive in late May.

Southeast of this, the Russian DRGs that I’ve reported on over the past month have pushed even further into Ukrainian lines, now moving well past Zemlyanyi Yar into Yurchenkove and Bilyi Kolodyaz, the latter being the Ukrainian supply hub for the area.

To the northeast, Russian assault groups have advanced well into the previously formed greyzone, capturing a large number of fields and treelines as well as the small village of Volokhivske. Bilyi Kolodyaz is now under threat from both sides and may be overwhelmed if Ukraine is unable to hold its flanks as the Russians have just been able to push right through and around them.

To the east the DRGs have now moved on even further afield due to a lack of Ukrainian response, infiltrating Zakharivka and Ivanivka. There are also reports of more DRGs being sent out from the settlements along the Vovcha River (under the a and y), trying to further exploit Ukraine’s seeming lack of forces here.

Swinging further east, on the opposite side of this front, recent rumoured advances have now been confirmed, with the Russian infantry that captured the village of Artilne the previous week striking out west and capturing a number of treelines and the village of Ivashchyne. The neighbouring village of Ustynivka has also been breached and will likely be captured in the coming week, but the main concern for Ukraine will be if Russia can further exploit this push and head further west to try link up with the DRGs from the other side. Having said this, Russia has not properly consolidated in the majority of these advances and DRG pushes, mainly making progress due to thin or undermanned Ukrainian lines, so they could be pushed back easily in counterattacks.

Heading to the Kupyansk front, over the past few weeks fighting has continued within Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Kivsharivka and Novoosynove, with Russia making ground in the latter two. The remainder of the Kupyansk pocket continues to slowly shrink day by day, but will probably last until autumn.

Down south on the Oskil River front, throughout July Russia managed to stabilise in a few areas and has now begun to push back against previous Ukrainian advances. On the northeast side Russia has gradually recaptured Zahryzove after Ukraine’s assault petered out a couple of months ago.

To the southwest, Russia has made another attempt to assault Novoplatonivka and has moved into the northern houses and adjacent forest area. Like the previous attempt their chances of success are low just due to how few reinforcement/supply routes they have and being exposed to attacks on three sides, but I won’t completely rule out their chance of success.

To the southeast, Russia looks to have recaptured Borivska Andriivka and has once again pushed out into the adjacent treelines, putting them back to a similar position to where they were in early June. From here they’ll want to push south to take over Shyikivka and get themselves in a better spot to assault Borova, but Ukraine could always counterattack again so we’ll have to wait and see how this area develops.

Further southeast on the same front, Ukraine launched some smaller attacks in and north of Tverdokhlibove, recapturing a couple of treelines. Minimal activity here overall and this is the only confirmed movement in this region in months, which I don’t expect to change much in the short term.

Down to the Lyman front, heavy clashes continue within the town, with Ukraine reportedly recapturing parts of the greyzone on the northwest side. Overall the sides are still locked in battle with each other and clashes will continue likely into next month.

To the southeast Russia has been gradually clearing parts of the greyzone near Yampil, retaking part of the forest. Ukraine still has some infiltrators in Yampil, Ozerne and Dibrova, but developments on the Slovyansk front to the south has made reinforcing and supplying them more difficult.

Moving to the Slovyansk front, on the north side Russia has continued to pressure the remaining Ukrainian strongholds east of the canal, capturing several forest areas and beginning assaults on the town of Mykolaivka.

To the south, Russia has captured a bit more of Rai-Oleksandrivka and their forces are working on securing the remaining houses now (all in the greyzone).

To the southwest, Russia has been expanding its control on the opposite side of the canal near Malynivka, whilst other assault groups and DRGs secured a number of treelines next to Tykhonivka. These groups are now heading into Vasyuntynske which has moved into the greyzone and will likely fall within the next couple of weeks.

Onto the Kostyantynivka front, on the east side Russia has now cleared and captured/recaptured (depends on who you ask) Chasiv Yar, beginning to move into the village west of it to clear those as well. Whatever small Ukrainian garrisons remain in this cluster of settlements will not be able to last long with no reinforcements and supplied only by drone, so we will see this area shrink over the coming weeks and eventually fall under Russian control.

To the west, Suriyak has marked the remainder of Kostyantynivka as having come under Russian control, ending the battle for the city. Naturally whether it has been captured is quite a divisive topic, with the usual spread of claims from Russia having no control to occupying much further than shown here. Whilst there are still some Ukrainians in Kostyantynivka their numbers would be minimal at this point and their control outside the building they currently sit in non-existent. As with other city and town battles Russia will spent many weeks, possibly months, clearing out the last of them but the frontline will have moved well on from the city by the time they are done.

As part of the same advance as the above some Russian troops have made it into Oleksijevo-Druzhkivka and Osykove, trying to establish a foothold, whilst others have been clearing the fields and treelines to the west on their way to Mykolaipillya.

To the southwest, Russia has reportedly captured Rozkishne and Dovha Balka after several weeks of fighting and is now moving on to the north.

To the northwest, Russian infantry groups made a series of quick advances up along the Kazenyi Torets River, capturing the villages of Torske, Toretske and Krasnyi Kut in a few days. From what I could gather the Russians had such an easy time as the Ukrainians had barebones garrisons here and were entirely relying on drones to hold, but did not expect the sudden Russian pushes as this area has been relatively quiet for months. I’d also add that this likely relates to that Russian mechanised push from a week ago, as the column stopped and dropped out troops in Shakhove that would have reinforced this area.

Whilst all this has been going on Ukraine launched some small attacks near the quarries to the south, seemingly ignorant or unbothered of the deteriorating situation north and northeast. As others have pointed out further Russian advances could create a smaller pocket in the fields between Kostyantynivka and the Kazenyi Torets River, however I doubt they would be able to close it as the top side would run too close to the city of Druzhkivka.

Over on the Dobropillya front, the situation has seriously deteriorated for Ukraine throughout the week, threatening the city. Starting on the north side, Russian DRGs continue to probe the east side of Dobropillya and Hannivka, trying to establish a foothold for their assault groups to use.

Immediately south, Russian assault groups from multiple directions have managed to make significant gains throughout the village cluster south of the city after Ukrainian positions seemingly collapsed. They were able to take control of Shevchenko and Svitle, as well as begin moving into Chernihivka, Vodyanske and Krasnopodiliya to conduct clearing operations.

There are plenty of rumours and theories of a planned Ukrainian withdrawal here, however the evidence for this is light as we continue to see Ukrainian troops fighting in this area (i.e. they are still contesting it). The Russians also haven’t been able to push nearly as far as would be expected if Ukraine had withdrawn right back and are still bombing/droning various areas, so they too consider Ukraine to still be trying to hold. Regardless, if Russia does take over this area then the battle for Dobropillya will begin much sooner than anticipated, as they will now have forward staging points and access into the city.

Heading to the far east side of the Pokrovske front, the infiltration zone continues to expand, with Ukraine making further attempts to send DRGs towards Zirka, Piddubne and Myrne. Russia still holds positions such as in Yalta, but the Ukrainians are bypassing them and trying to deepen their infiltrations and reach the Russian rear area. Similarly we’ve seen Russian troops in Andriivka-Klevtsove for several weeks now (above the y), who are also behind Ukrainian lines trying to do a similar thing.

Over on the main part of the Pokrovske front and the Hulyaipole front, on the north side Russian DRGs have done it again and have appeared in yet another village deep behind Ukrainian lines after being ‘wiped out’ (as Ukraine has claimed dozens of times). This time they filmed a video in the village of Blahodatne, about 13km from the nearest Russian position and over a river, but there was also a separate group that was spotted in Khrystophorivka 5km to the south. Same as with picture 12 these DRGs are moving deep behind the opponents lines trying to cause chaos and confusion, but not actually taking control of anything as they claim.

To the southwest Russian forces moved into the village of Lyubytske and claim to have captured it, however fighting is ongoing.

Southeast Russia resecured the localities of Verkhnya Tersa and Hirke after some back and forth, now trying to push the front west and capture the villages of Rivne, Dolynka and Kopani.

Out on the Zaporizhia front, over the week Russian assault groups continued to build on their earlier attacks, recapturing the treelines next to Shcherbaky and Mali Shcherbaky as well as some more further north and east.

To the northwest fighting has recommenced in the area of the solar power plant, where Russia looks to be trying to recapture positions there to use for further attacks north and east.