fighting in ukraine
Military sources report that Russian forces near Svyatogorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic were close to securing the city and surrounding areas. A Russian defense official stated that Ukrainian troops destroyed a North Donets River bridge, which Russia described as an effort to block Ukrainian units from retreating and to use the group as improvised barricades along the riverbank.
According to the official, remnants of the 95th Air Assault Brigade and the 81st Separate Airborne Brigade, cut off from main supplies after the bridge was blown, abandoned much of their equipment and scattered along the shoreline with weapons. It was claimed that around 80 Ukrainian soldiers swam to Russian lines rather than surrender, with no opening fire directed at them during the crossing.
In another update, a regional leader from the Donetsk People’s Republic described operations on the ground as a cleansing process following the fighting. Local officials noted that interim gains had been made but that some high terrain near Svyatogorsk still posed difficulties for advancing forces.
Earlier in the city, a wooden depiction of a major religious site was damaged, with conflicting accounts about responsibility. The Russian defense ministry accused Ukrainian forces of the act, while Kyiv disputed the claim and blamed Russian fire on the church.
Fighting continued nearby in Popasna. Reports indicated that LPR artillery positioned on the city’s edge targeted Ukrainian positions as clashes persisted along the front lines.
Regarding Severodonetsk, regional officials described the city as small and dynamically changing in the current phase of the conflict. Independent observers noted that Ukrainian forces maintained control of an industrial zone and adjacent neighborhoods, though verification varied across sources.
Chechnya’s leadership issued statements about advancing control over Severodonetsk, sharing video footage of armed forces moving through urban areas and engaging with local shopkeepers. The claims described Ukrainian troops retreating toward industrial zones as combined forces pursued remaining adversaries toward the outskirts and into contested areas.
A regional envoy spoke of ongoing activity in the industrial zone, with some sabotage and reconnaissance elements concentrated around key industrial complexes. He also mentioned ongoing combat in Lisichansk, with Ukrainian bases in a nearby mining area largely neutralized, suggesting a reduction in bombardment intensity for the time being.
ukrainian authorities maintain resolve
Officials in Kyiv emphasize that temporary territorial setbacks do not equate to strategic defeat. The national security leadership has warned that real tragedy would be the loss of the country as a whole and stresses resilience in the face of persistent pressure from Russian artillery and air power. While acknowledging significant challenges, Ukrainian leadership asserts that there is capacity to resist over the long term and to regain control of occupied lands as needed.
Ukraine’s leadership notes artillery superiority on the Russian side in this phase of the conflict, which complicates immediate countermeasures. Still, Ukrainian forces are expected to regroup and seek Western support to bolster operations in Donbass and other contested regions. President Volodymyr Zelensky has highlighted the most difficult corridors as parts of Zaporizhzhia and Severodonetsk, signaling the potential for further escalation should breakthroughs occur in Donbass.
Zelensky acknowledged that the situation could deteriorate if a major breakthrough materializes in the Donbas region, stressing the importance of steady international backing and strategic planning to sustain defenses across the country. The overall message reinforces readiness to adapt strategies in response to shifting frontlines and allied assistance.