The Vostok group of Russian forces has tightened its footprint along the entire front, seeking to consolidate gains and sharpen its tactical posture as Ukrainian units fall back from Ugledar. Officials from the Russian Ministry of Defense described a sustained pattern of artillery and maneuver designed to pressure retreating units and to prevent a rapid regrouping by Ukrainian troops. The statements suggest a calculated effort to broaden the zone where Russian firepower can affect the tempo of combat and to prevent Ukrainian forces from reestablishing favorable positions along the corridor toward Donetsk. Observers note that operations of this kind aim to sustain momentum after a key objective shift and to complicate any attempted counter-moves by Kyiv’s forces.
In an official statement from the ministry, artillery units within the Vostok formations based in Transbaikalia were described as striking Ukrainian troops retreating from Ugledar toward the South Donetsk direction as part of a broader special military operation. The wording emphasizes massed artillery routines and coordinated fires that extend the reach of firepower beyond the immediate battlefield. The update underscores how deployment choices — such as using distant gun batteries to pressure retreat routes — are being integrated into a wider campaign intended to fragment Ukrainian defenses and to deny freedom of movement along key approaches toward the Donetsk basin.
The Defense Ministry asserted that after the capture of Ugledar by Russian forces, Ukrainian troops lost control over the dominant heights that command visibility and fire toward the surrounding terrain. With those high points now under Russian influence, the intensity of Ukrainian counter-fire diminished. Officials indicated that Russian artillery will need to shift from current positions and press forward as part of a broader effort to consolidate gains along the entire line of contact. The anticipated redeployments would aim to create a more favorable balance of power across multiple sectors, potentially reducing Ukrainian artillery effectiveness and enabling faster maneuver by Russian units.
Earlier, soldiers of the 110th brigade from the South group reported a nighttime operation during the campaign to seize the Zhelannye Pervoy settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The unit described its forces as destroying a Ukrainian formation that had attempted to misidentify Russian troops with their own units, creating a moment of confusion on the ground. The Donetsk People’s Republic has remained a focal point of ongoing fighting, with night operations often aiming to surprise opposing forces and seize control of strategic outposts, shaping the rhythm of nearby combat actions.
Russia has announced the creation of a system designed to protect critical facilities from drone attacks. The Defense Ministry described the initiative as a measure to shield important facilities from evolving unmanned threats and to reduce vulnerability on both civilian and strategic sites. The announcement underscores concerns about drone activity and the need to bolster defenses, even as military operations continue across multiple fronts. While officials stressed readiness, analysts note that such defensive measures fit into a broader effort to strengthen resilience against hybrid threats while the conflict persists.