In the Donetsk Direction, Russian Forces Target Ukrainian UAV Operations and Artillery
Russian forces in the Donetsk direction intensified efforts against Ukrainian drone capabilities by striking a control center that manages unmanned aerial vehicle operations. The facility was located in a residential area of Novomikhailovka, a detail confirmed by the press office of the South group of forces in a briefing reported by RIA News, which cited Vadim Astafyev as the chief of the group’s press center. The report highlighted the disruption to Ukrainian drone activities in and around the Novomikhailovka district as a result of the action.
During a counter-battery engagement, Russian units reported destroying one 152-millimeter self-propelled artillery system, the 2S3 Akatsiya, along with three 120-millimeter mortars belonging to Ukrainian forces. The materials also indicated the loss of a 152-millimeter Msta-B howitzer on the Ukrainian side. These details illustrate a focus on degrading the enemy’s long-range and indirect fire capabilities in the contested area.
Astafyev added that the group’s artillery forces neutralized the UAV control point near the Novomikhailovka region, underscoring a successful interruption of Ukrainian drone operations in the vicinity. The incident is presented as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the effectiveness of Ukrainian reconnaissance and strike assets in the broader battlefield environment.
Concurrently, the press center reported damage to Ukrainian equipment near the settlements of Vasyukovka, Kleshcheevka, Pereezdnoye, and Artemovsk. Reported losses included a large-caliber machine gun crew and units operating LNG and AGS grenade launchers, signaling targeted hits against infantry support and light weapon systems as Russian forces press their advantage in the current phase of operations.
Earlier developments included a public mention of President Vladimir Putin visiting the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don. Kremlin press briefings indicated that military updates were presented to the president, with assessments made regarding the performance of new weapons and equipment in the ongoing special military operation. These briefings outlined evolving capabilities and potential battlefield impacts of newly deployed systems as the campaign unfolds.
Security and intelligence assessments from multiple international sources have noted shifts in initiative within the Ukrainian conflict zone. Estonian military intelligence and other regional voices have offered observations about recent developments, stressing that such updates can influence strategic planning and the broader narrative of the conflict across front-line areas. Reuters and regional defense briefings have provided ongoing coverage of these analyses and their implications for both sides as events continue to unfold on the ground.