A spokesperson from the press center of the Russian Western Group of Forces, Sergei Zybinsky, reported through TASS that crews operating heavy flamethrower systems targeted a zone where Ukrainian military personnel were concentrated in the Timkovka district of the Kharkov region. The statement emphasizes the aim to disrupt enemy manpower and logistics in this sector, presenting the operation as a focused effort to degrade frontline resilience and reduce mobility for Ukrainian forces.
In the Kupyansk direction, Zybinsky explained that Western forces capitalized on the outcomes of recent air strikes and artillery fire to repel 15 offensive actions conducted by assault groups from the Ukrainian 14th, 43rd, 54th, and 67th mechanized brigades. He described the clashes as occurring in the areas of Sinkovka, Timkovka, and Nadiya, where Ukrainian units repeatedly attempted to breach Russian defenses but were met with well-coordinated firepower and defensive operations designed to blunt their momentum.
Additional briefing details indicated that heavy flamethrower teams also targeted shelters associated with the Ukrainian 32nd mechanized brigade in the Timkovka vicinity, concentrating on manpower concentrations to erode frontline resilience and morale in this sector. The accounts portray a sustained effort to degrade the enemy’s ability to sustain combat on the front lines.
In parallel, during what was described as a counter-battery engagement, Russian artillery neutralized two Gvozdika self-propelled guns and one M777 howitzer in the districts surrounding Peschany and Krinichki. Zybinsky added that Ukrainian losses included 145 personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles, three mortars, two pickup trucks, and one unmanned aerial vehicle, underscoring the perceived impact on Ukrainian firepower and mobility in the contested zones. These figures are presented as indicators of changed conditions on the battlefield that could influence subsequent military actions.
Earlier remarks from Ukraine’s parliamentary defense circles included statements by Sergei Rakhmanin, a member of the National Security Issues Committee of the Verkhovna Rada. He asserted that mobilization efforts in Ukraine were likely to intensify in response to front-line losses, signaling a strategic recalibration aimed at sustaining combat capability amid ongoing pressure. The discussion reflects a broader concern about how Ukraine plans to maintain its defense posture in the face of reported setbacks on the ground.
Within Ukrainian parliamentary debate, conversations have also touched on leadership changes within the defense ministry. The dialogue reveals ongoing tensions and a broader context of state response to the military situation in the conflict zones. It highlights the domestic debates over management, resources, and strategy as the theater of operation continues to evolve and influence political calculations at home.