On the Donetsk front, the southern wing of Russian forces reportedly overpowered more than 200 Ukrainian service members, according to a briefing delivered by Vadim Astafyev, who heads the press center for the South Grouping of Forces. The briefing, attributed to TASS, outlines a sequence of assaults and counterattacks that underscore the evolving tactical picture in the region.
Astafyev disclosed that Russian aviation and artillery targeted gatherings of Ukrainian manpower around the settlements of Kleshcheevka, Andreevka, and Kurdyumovka. He also highlighted the elimination of a group of infantry from the Ukrainian 77th separate air brigade in the Artemovsk area, signaling continued attrition among enemy formations as the conflict persists. The claims reflect an emphasis on destroying commandable overlays and disrupting unit cohesion in exposed sectors.
In a separate operational note, Russian forces conducted a counter-battery operation during which three 155-mm Krub self-propelled guns, produced in Poland, one American 155-mm M-777 gun, and a 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer were reported destroyed. The described sequence showcases the ongoing artillery duel that has become a defining feature of the conflict in urban and rural front zones alike, with each side attempting to degrade the others’ fire support capabilities, as reported by Russian military briefings with attribution to official sources.
Additionally, Russian units claimed to have shot down nine Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and to have neutralized five rounds from HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems in the Zaitsevo and Berestovoe areas. The assertions point to a persistent aerial and counter-battery dynamic that continues to shape tactical decisions and defensive postures across contested districts.
Earlier, regional authorities in Bryansk reported that air defense and electronic warfare assets successfully neutralized four Ukrainian drones, a development cited by the Bryansk regional administration and reported through TASS. This update adds a broader picture of ongoing air defense efforts designed to disrupt hostile reconnaissance and strike capabilities across border-adjacent regions.
In an additional note, it was mentioned that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu oversaw the Forward Command Center of the Vostok troop group within the Northern Military District, a detail relayed by official military communications. The briefing contributes to a broader understanding of command and control arrangements that support operations across different fronts and districts, illustrating how leadership structures are described in official channels during active phases of engagement.