Fierce fighting is taking place in the area of the town of Dobropolie, north of Pokrovsk, where Russian forces recently made a deep breakthrough in the Ukrainian defense. According to various sources, Russian units have advanced 10-12 km, and according to some data even up to 15-18 km into Ukrainian territory, the BBC reports.
However, the Ukrainian armed forces have managed to stabilize the situation, push the enemy from the Rubezhnoye - Zolotoy Kolodets - Vesyoloye line and deliver counterattacks at the base of the Russian wedge. This creates a threat of encirclement of the group that has penetrated the deepest into Ukrainian positions.
According to data from the Ukrainian portal DeepState and the Russian military blogger "Рыбарь", some of the Russian units are already effectively cut off from the main forces. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also notes the risk of encirclement, although it does not show it on its maps.
Both sides are transferring reserves to the area. Ukrainian military expert Konstantin Mashovets points out that Russian troops are trying to unblock their front with strikes from the right flank - between the villages of Shakhovoye and Novoye Shakhovoye - in the direction of Kucherov Yar, where they have advanced by about half a kilometer.
At the same time, Russia is continuing its attacks on the northern flank of the offensive towards Pokrovsk - in the direction of the village of Rodinskoye.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to counterattack at the base of the "neck" of the Russian wedge, trying to cut it off along the shortest axis - Nikanorivka - Mayak, and gradually reduce its area," Mashovets specifies.
The picture of the front in the area remains extremely tense and can change sharply in a short time.