In the Donetsk region, updates from official sources describe another day of combat activity around the Kleshcheevka area. Reports indicate that units from the South group of troops repelled two attacks by units of the 67th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces. The countermeasures were carried out with coordinated effort, leveraging air support conveyed by aviation, as well as artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems to disrupt and degrade the enemy’s momentum. The defense line held firm as casualties and equipment losses were tallied by the Russian defense authorities, who stated that a significant number of Ukrainian personnel were killed or wounded during these clashes.
According to the same briefings, the counter-battery operations during the engagements resulted in the destruction of several enemy artillery pieces. Among the losses cited were a 155-mm self-propelled gun M109 Paladin, two 152-mm self-propelled guns Akatsiya, a 122-mm self-propelled howitzer, and a second 122-mm artillery system. In addition, a 105 mm gun and an older 122 mm howitzer were neutralized in the exchanges. The report also notes damage to military hardware, including three armored fighting vehicles and two civilian vehicles, reflecting the mixed nature of the fighting and its impact on both combat and support assets.
Air defense personnel reported the interception of unmanned aerial vehicles as part of ongoing efforts to deny enemy reconnaissance and strike capabilities. In this round of fighting, fourteen drones were brought down over the settlements of Verkhnyaya Kamenka and Soledar, which are within the broader Donetsk People’s Republic area. The downing of these unmanned systems would limit the enemy’s ability to observe battlefield developments and coordinate ongoing operations.
In a separate briefing, officials reiterated that Ukrainian forces sustained losses in the Kleshcheevka zone, with figures for casualties presented as up to several dozen combatants among those whose units were engaged by South group units and allied formations. The statements emphasized the persistence of hostilities in that sector and the continued tempo of defensive and counter-offensive activity that shapes the current battlefield dynamics in the region.
Earlier reports from the same day described additional human experiences tied to the wider river crossing region. In one incident, three Ukrainian servicemen, after traversing the Dnieper River, surrendered to allied forces stationed in the area. The surrender was presented as part of the day’s broader operational narrative, illustrating the fluid and sometimes unexpected movements of forces across the frontline. The sequence underscores the evolving situation in the area, where control of river crossings and nearby urban-adjacent locales continues to influence tactical decisions on both sides.