Officials of the Southern Group of Forces reported significant combat activity near Avdiivka, stating that ammunition depots and personnel belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were destroyed. The claim was released by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which provided situational details to illustrate the scope of the operation and its strategic context on the front lines.
The ministry indicated that units from the 14th Guards Artillery Brigade, part of the 1st Army Corps within the Southern Group, carried out the engagement at the scene. It was noted that coordinates for the targets were obtained through aerial reconnaissance operations, emphasizing the role of real-time intelligence in planning and striking high-value assets and positions. The ministry added that these MLRS teams are deployed on a continuous basis to support the advance of assault units, underscoring the ongoing combined-arms effort to push forward and disrupt Ukrainian defense capabilities along key sectors of the front.
Prior to this engagement, Russian forces reportedly cleared the village of Kozinka in the Belgorod region of remnants of Ukrainian forces. The Ministry of Defense emphasized that Russian troops remain vigilant and are taking steps to prevent sabotage and reconnaissance groups from the AFU from approaching the border area, highlighting a broader preventative strategy to stabilize the border and deter incursions that could threaten nearby settlements or supply routes.
On the eve, Ukrainian forces conducted an attack using a kamikaze drone against the city of Gorlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Concurrently, Ukrainian units also targeted the Petrovsky district of Donetsk and the nearby city of Krasnohorivka, areas that lie close to the front line and have been under persistent pressure. The described strikes illustrate the ongoing volatility of the front, with both sides engaging in operations intended to disrupt the other’s frontline capabilities and command and control nodes, as reported by the Russian defense establishment.
Additionally, it was mentioned that discussions or statements related to potential support from international partners, including remarks about the possible transfer of older aircraft by Germany to Ukraine, have circulated publicly. The record indicates interest in how external military hardware might influence the balance on the battlefield, though the precise nature, timing, and terms of such transfers remain subjects of speculation and diplomatic discourse rather than confirmed deployments on the ground. Observers note that decisions of this kind could have wide-ranging implications for regional security dynamics and the logistics of support to Ukrainian forces, depending on political decisions and international approvals across alliances and partner governments.
Throughout these developments, official updates emphasize the continuing operations aimed at weakening Ukrainian artillery and logistics capabilities, protecting border integrity, and maintaining pressure on front-line positions. The statements reflect a broader narrative of persistent, layered military activity, including long-range counter-artillery actions, reconnaissance-driven targeting, and the maintenance of a ready-to-engage posture by assault formations. Analysts watching the conflict point to the importance of accurate intelligence, rapid-fire responses, and the synchronization of air, ground, and artillery components to sustain momentum in contested zones. The situation remains fluid, with battlefield assessments frequently revised as new information becomes available from both sides and from independent observers in regions adjacent to the contact lines.