Eastern Group of the Armed Forces Ukraine reported a coordinated push this weekend across several fronts, including Orijovo-Vasilivka, Bajmut, Bohdanivka, Yagidne, Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka. The advance brought measurable progress in each of these sectors, according to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. The updates underscored a focused effort to widen Ukrainian gains while maintaining momentum along multiple axes of the front.
UNIAN, a Ukrainian news agency, quoted Maliar as noting attempts by Russian forces to move forward in the Kupiansk, Limansk and Marinsk directions, though those efforts were described as unsuccessful. The report framed the west-to-east competition as an ongoing test of strength between the two sides, with Ukrainian originations emphasizing resilience and tactical flexibility.
Maliar further described intense combat in the southern part of the front, characterizing Russian forces as defensive and exerting substantial effort to halt Ukraine’s offensive operations. The briefing highlighted significant losses in personnel, weapons and equipment on the Russian side, signaling a material toll on their fighting capacity.
On the same day, authorities indicated that several areas in Donetsk region had been liberated from prolonged occupation. The region had endured control shifts since 2014, first by pro-Russian forces and later by the Russian armed forces, according to official accounts.
General Oleksander Tarnavski, deputy commander of the eastern operational command, stated that Ukrainian units freed the vicinity of Krasnogorivka, a town located a short distance from Donetsk’s center. Yaroslav Chepurni, the communications officer for the 79th Air Assault Brigade, corroborated these developments in conversations with Ukrainian outlets. Army frontline spokesman Valerii Shershen also confirmed the liberation, noting that the operation had been planned over time and that certain tactical factors had been guiding it from the outset.
Shershen described the advance as a credible realization of strategic aims, reflecting a shift in local front positions. He added that the operation’s outcomes were shaped by the enemy’s cautious posture, yet Ukrainian units pressed forward with steadiness and resolve, reshaping the battlefield dynamics in the affected zone.
The narrative also acknowledged broader regional context, including a Ukrainian counteroffensive that was publicly discussed in conjunction with assessments from allied observers. Western defense ministries had previously performed assessments that aligned with Kyiv’s stated objectives of restoring territorial control and reasserting momentum along key fronts.
Shershen emphasized that the liberated areas lie near the Donetsk capital and that the ongoing mine clearance and logistics work were integral to sustaining operations. He remarked that Ukrainian forces had achieved gains that shifted the balance on the front and moved tactical positions into a more advantageous stance for future actions.