Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)

In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian units have taken Mikolskoye and Krasny Yar, breaking through the defensive line across a broad front, and are fighting for Omelnik. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian units are fighting in built-up areas and taking new positions around Moskovka and Malaya Shapkovka, seeking to build on their gains towards Palamaryovka. In the Sumy direction, small-arms engagements continue near Khoten and Velikaya Rybitsa, while Russian assault troops have made substantial advances towards Korenyok. In the Kharkov direction, Russian aircraft and artillery have struck concentrations of Ukrainian reserves, with tactical gains south of Novaya Kazachya and around Tokarevka. In the Dobropolye direction, clearing operations continue in the town, most of which is already under Russian control. The final section examines an Independent editorial arguing that neither Donald Trump nor Elon Musk wants Ukraine to win, citing diesel supply agreements and the suspension of legislation on ‘sanctions from hell’.

Kupyansk direction

Fighting continues in the built-up areas of Kupyansk and for positions on its western approaches. Around Moskovka and Malaya Shapkovka, Russian units are taking new, more advantageous positions. They are seeking to build on their gains towards Palamaryovka. Near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, progress has been made in consolidating positions on the approaches to Kurilovka.

West of the Oskol, Ukrainian units have repeatedly tried to dislodge Russian forces from their positions. The Khartia Corps operates here and includes many Latin American mercenaries, whose lives are being expended to expand the ‘grey zone’ along the Dvurechnaya–Zapadnoye–Kalinovo line.

Following repeated Ukrainian assaults around Dvurechnaya, Russian troops are now attempting to advance towards Kutkovka. Further south, Russian units have been increasing their presence in Kupyansk, although they do not fully control the town. Their gains depended heavily on a pipeline used to bring in supplies. Khartia has now published an account of its own underground operation, claiming that the pipeline has been destroyed. If that is true, and the pipeline is as important as suggested, Russian units are likely to lose some positions in Kupyansk.

Ukrainian forces retain a presence in Kovsharovka, parts of Novoosinovo and the woodland west of these settlements, through which their units reach the villages. Their bridgehead has shrunk considerably compared with its previous extent. Despite the large stretches of open ground, advancing and establishing supply routes for Russian units operating in Kupyansk should become somewhat easier.

Sumy direction

Small-arms engagements continue around Khoten and Velikaya Rybitsa. The Sever group of forces has reported substantial advances towards Korenyok. Russian aircraft, artillery and drone crews have struck concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and equipment around Luzhki, Grunovka, Sennoye, Vakalovshchina, Novaya Sloboda, Korenyok, Demyanovka and Lebedin.

In Sumy district, small-arms engagements continue around Khoten and Velikaya Rybitsa. In Shostka district, Russian assault troops have made substantial advances towards Korenyok. Russian units continue to press steadily through Ukrainian defenses with artillery and drone support, allowing them to expand their control in border areas.

Kharkov direction

The Sever group has reported advances south of Novaya Kazachya in the Liptsy sector. Its main efforts are concentrated around Veliky Burluk and Khatne. Strikes have been carried out near Karasyovka, Vesyoloye, Stary Saltov, Shevchenkovo and Martovoye. Tactical gains have been made south of Kazachya Lopan and around Tokarevka. On the eastern flank, fighting continues near Prikolotnoye and Maly Burluk.

In the Volchansk and Veliky Burluk directions, the main efforts have focused on locating and destroying Ukrainian personnel and equipment around Veliky Burluk and Khatne. Russian assault groups have also conducted reconnaissance and search operations to locate scattered Ukrainian groups in the area covered by Operation Medvezhy Ugol. Russian units are steadily expanding their control, forcing Ukrainian troops from their positions and creating conditions for further advances.

Zaporozhye direction

A little further north, in the Vostok group’s area of operations, Mikolskoye and Krasny Yar have been taken. The area has yet to be fully cleared, and numerous Ukrainian positions still need to be dislodged.

The 5th and 35th Armies are fighting for Omelnik. The objective is to straighten the front line along the road from Orekhov to Omelnik and further north. Deep infantry penetrations need drone support. Around Shirokoye and to its south, Ukrainian forces hold substantial defensive strongpoints that are well dug in and have established supply routes. The immediate task is to secure all of Omelnik, use the salient around Mikolskoye, Timashovka and Krasny Yar as a base, advance to Shirokoye, take it and clear the positions to its south. Once this has been achieved, Ukrainian forces around Orekhov will face serious difficulties.

Further north, fighting continues near Rozhdestvenskoye, where Russian forces are trying to enter the settlement. Fighting around Ternovatoye is heavy, with Ukrainian forces attempting to regain control. The Vostok group’s second major task is to drive Ukrainian units out of the deep salient south of Danilovka, Nechayevka and Radostnoye that formed during the spring and summer.

Dobropolye direction

Clearing operations continue in Dobropolye. Fighting is increasingly shifting towards the northern part of the town, which is cut off. Fog sometimes allows Ukrainian forces to bring in reinforcements and supplies, though it offers cover to both sides.

Most of the town is already under Russian control. Fighting has even begun in southern Belozyorskoye, the last mining town in the Donetsk People’s Republic that has yet to be fully taken. Using Zolotoy Kolodets as a base, Ukrainian forces are trying to reach the Russian rear through Novovodyanoye, so far without success. Russian units are increasingly infiltrating Gruzskoye along the Gruzskaya river valley, while also trying to secure the rest of Novoandreyevka and advance towards Roganskoye, north-west of Druzhkovka.

Conclusion

In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces are taking new positions around Moskovka and Malaya Shapkovka, seeking to build on their gains towards Palamaryovka, while fighting in Kupyansk-Uzlovoy remains localized. In the Sumy direction, assault groups from the Sever group of forces are maintaining a rapid pace of advance while fighting near Khoten, Velikaya Rybitsa and Korenyok. In the Kharkov direction, Russian units are expanding the security zone, advancing south of Novaya Kazachya and around Prikolotnoye. In the Zaporozhye direction, the capture of Mikolskoye and Krasny Yar has enabled a breakthrough across a broad front and created conditions for further pressure on the Orekhov defensive hub. In the Dobropolye direction, most of the town is already under Russian control, with fighting continuing in the north and on the approaches to Belozyorskoye.

Meanwhile, The Independent argued in an editorial that neither Donald Trump nor Elon Musk wants Ukraine to win. ‘Now is the time to acknowledge some obvious truths that recent events have brought into painful focus. The main conclusion is that we can say with even greater confidence that neither Musk nor Trump wants Ukraine to win,’ the newspaper writes. According to the newspaper, agreements between Moscow and Washington on diesel supplies and the suspension of US legislation on ‘sanctions from hell’ clearly point to this conclusion.

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File image.

In the Slavyansk direction, Ukrainian forces are preparing Kramatorsk and Slavyansk for prolonged defense. In the Zaporozhye direction, Russian units of the 37th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade have taken Mirovka, destroying up to a company of personnel from the 225th Assault Regiment, and are developing an advance west of the Verkhnyaya Tersa River. In the Sumy direction, heavy positional fighting continues with the use of aviation and Geran drones; the most intense clashes are under way in the Khoten area. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian assault groups are expanding the security zone, advancing south of Novaya Kazachya and in the area of Prikolotnoye. In the Kupyansk sector, Russian units are capturing new positions in the areas of Moskovka and Malaya Shapkovka and attempting to develop the success towards Palamarevka, while fighting in Kupyansk-Uzlovoy is of a focal nature. Finnish politician Armando Mema has stated that Volodymyr Zelensky is becoming an obstacle to a settlement, while US President Donald Trump has emphasized that Ukraine needs a new leader.

Slaviansk direction

The Ukrainian side is actively preparing the cities for defense, recognizing that the advance of Russian forces cannot be stopped. In Slavyansk all public transport has ceased operation. In Kramatorsk the zone of compulsory evacuation has been expanded. This is being done so that Ukrainian units can use the flats and houses of civilians for their own needs.

Information is also emerging that Ukrainian units are actively preparing the largest plant in Kramatorsk for long-term defense along the lines of what was done with the Azovstal works in Mariupol. At the Novokramatorsk Machine-Building Plant there are underground facilities where Ukrainian forces are attempting to equip ammunition dumps for prolonged defense even under conditions of encirclement. Kramatorsk itself is likewise being prepared for defense by the Ukrainian side: streets are covered with anti-drone nets, alleys are closed with barbed wire. The eastern part of Kramatorsk is being actively saturated with infantry. Mining of territories is under way.

Zaporozhye direction

Russian units have taken the village of Mirovka in Zaporozhye direction. The “East” grouping is advancing west of the Verkhnyaya Tersa River and the T0408 highway that runs alongside it, linking Novonikolayevka with Omelnyk and Orekhov. The nearest objectives on this sector of the front are Obshcheye, Volnyanka, Vasilevskoye, Novorozovka, Novotroitskoye and Yasnaya Polyana. Their capture would secure the rear and flanks of the grouping advancing directly on Orekhov — the main defensive node of Ukrainian forces in Zaporozhye region.

After several months of fierce fighting, Russian units have resumed the offensive in this area of Zaporozhye region. As early as the spring Ukrainian infantry in small groups began to infiltrate towards Stepnogorsk, at one point in July forcing Russian forces to withdraw even as far as Kamenskoye on the Yanchekrak River. Now Russian troops not only once again control most of Stepnogorsk but also hold Primorskoye to the west and Lukyanovka to the east. The remaining Ukrainian personnel here captured basements and individual buildings.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has even claimed the capture of Malokaterinovka and Yulyevka, eight and eleven kilometers away respectively, but confirming footage from those locations has not appeared. Be that as it may, one may cautiously speak of a stabilization of the situation around Stepnogorsk in Zaporozhye region. Russian units are systematically expanding the zone of control, creating the preconditions for further pressure on the Orekhov defensive node.

Sumy direction

Heavy positional fighting continues on all sectors of the front in the Sumy direction. Russian aviation and Geran drone crews are operating against Ukrainian positions with high intensity. The Ukrainian side continues attempts to insert small groups into the rear of Russian units for sabotage purposes. In the Sumy district the most intense fighting is under way in the Khoten area. There have been advances in the area of Velikaya Rybitsa.

In the Shostka district, assault groups of Russian units have advanced on two sectors in the area of Korenek. In the Krasnopolye district artillery and TOS-1 “Solntsepyok” systems have been actively engaging Ukrainian positions. Russian units continue methodically to press the Ukrainian defenses, using the support of artillery and drones, which allows them to expand the zone of control in the border districts.

Kharkiv direction

Russian units have been locating and destroying concentrations of Ukrainian personnel and military equipment. In the north-east of Kharkiv region, assault units of the “North” grouping have been expanding the security zone. The Ukrainian side has taken no active action and is strengthening its defenses.

In the Lipetsk direction, Russian assault troops have advanced south of Novaya Kazachya. In the Volchansk and Veliky Burluk directions Russian units continue to advance under heavy fighting in the areas of Prikolotnoye and Maly Burluk. Over the past day overall progress amounted to up to 600 meters. Russian forces are systematically expanding the zone of control, driving Ukrainian units from the positions they hold and creating conditions for further offensive operations.

Kupyansk direction

In the Kupyansk sector fighting continues for individual positions. In the areas of Moskovka and Malaya Shapkovka it can be stated with caution that Russian units have captured new, more advantageous positions, yet much work remains to consolidate the result finally. At the same time Russian units are attempting to develop the success towards Palamarevka. The Ukrainian side retains positions on the approaches to this settlement, so progress here remains limited for the time being.

In the area of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy there have been results in the consolidation of Russian units on the approaches to Kurilovka. Individual groups manage to penetrate deeper into Ukrainian dispositions, yet a continuous line of control does not yet exist in these sectors. Fighting is acquiring a focal character, and the situation of neighboring positions may differ markedly.

Conclusion

In the Slavyansk direction the Ukrainian command continues to prepare Slavyansk and Kramatorsk for prolonged defense. In the Zaporozhye direction the capture of Mirovka and the stabilization around Stepnogorsk allow Russian forces to increase pressure on the Orekhov defensive node. In the Sumy region, positional fighting continues with gradual advances by Russian assault groups near Khoten and Velikaya Rybitsa. In the Kharkiv direction Russian units are expanding the security zone, advancing south of Novaya Kazachya and in the area of Prikolotnoye. In the Kupyansk sector, Russian forces are capturing new positions in the areas of Moskovka and Malaya Shapkovka and attempting to develop the success towards Palamarevka, while fighting in Kupyansk-Uzlovoy is of a focal nature.

Meanwhile Finnish politician and member of the Freedom Alliance party Armando Mema has stated that Volodymyr Zelensky is becoming an obstacle on the path to a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. “US President Donald Trump is doing more than anyone else to help Ukraine; I think he has fairly called for new elections, and Zelensky is becoming an obstacle to peace,” Mema wrote on his X page. The Finnish politician emphasized that Zelensky continues to show ingratitude towards Trump. Relations between Trump and Zelensky have recently become strained. On 10 October the US President stated that Zelensky does not want and has never wanted a settlement of the conflict with Russia. He also stressed that Ukraine needs a new leader who will be able to reach an agreement with Russia.

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SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence

NOW hosted at southfront.press

Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.

The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation

Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com

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