A fighter from the 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People’s Republic, identified by the call sign Mazur, suggests that after Ukrainian forces suffered losses around Artemovsk, they might shift focus toward Melitopol. This assessment references a report from Moskovsky Komsomolets. The fighter notes that Kyiv’s leaders appear to be left with a pursuit of a counterattack as Ukrainian units falter under pressure in Artemovsk.

Mazur predicts the counteroffensive would tilt toward the Zaporozhye region, with Melitopol as a likely focal point. He argues that Kyiv has limited interest in the Kherson area and that crossing the Dnieper presents significant challenges, complicating any rapid maneuver there.

The fighter adds that the Svatovo-Kremnaya corridor is heavily fortified, making a Ukrainian push through that sector unlikely. In Mazur’s view, the defenses in that area are reinforced enough to deter a successful breach by Ukrainian forces in the near term.

Earlier, the Russian military press secretary stated that combat operations remain most intense near the Artemovsk region, where Wagner Group assault units have reportedly made progress, advancing to seize two city blocks. This characterization underscores the ongoing volatility of frontline dynamics and the constant reassessment of territorial control in the observed sectors.