Russia attempting to establish fire control over outskirts of Ukraine's Sloviansk - Defense Forces
Illustrative photo: Russian troops attempt to establish fire control over the outskirts of Sloviansk (Getty Images)
Russian forces are attempting to establish fire control over the northern outskirts of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region and the approach routes to the city, according to the spokesperson of the Dnipro Operational-strategic grouping of forces, Oleksii Belskyi, in a comment to Ukrinform.
Belskyi confirmed that Russian troops continue attempts to gain fire control over the northern outskirts of Sloviansk.
"The occupiers’ objective was set for the spring–summer campaign. In fact, the summer campaign is still ongoing. They widely publicized it: taking control of all DPR (Donetsk {People's Republic - ed.) territory and 'liberating' major cities and settlements, including Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Pokrovsk, and Myrnohrad. They are very eager to capture Sloviansk. Especially since 2014, Sloviansk has been a kind of fetish for them,” the spokesperson said.
According to him, Russian forces are trying to bypass Lyman from multiple directions to advance toward Sloviansk. They are operating from the northeast — from the areas of Siversk and Lyman — and are also attempting attacks from the south and northwest.
"First, they want to take Lyman, then advance toward Raigorodok, Mykolaivka, and directly to the outskirts of Sloviansk, or descend via Sviatohirsk. Another possible direction is through Kramatorsk — from the south," Belskyi explained.
Despite intensified attacks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding the line; however, pressure from Russian forces is increasing.
"They are getting nowhere, so the higher leadership of the Russian Federation is putting pressure, and they are forced to increase the assault," he noted.
Regarding FPV drones, Belskyi emphasized that the Russian forces actively use them on the Lyman–Raigorodok–Sloviansk direction, though no significant increase in intensity has been recorded.
"They constantly use standard FPVs, as well as more and more fiber-optic FPV drones," the spokesperson added.
Situation in the Pokrovsk direction
Earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russian troops are preparing for a "decisive breakthrough" in the Pokrovsk area. The enemy’s key objective remains unchanged: capturing the Pokrovsk–Kramatorsk–Sloviansk agglomeration.
To this end, the Russian forces are concentrating forces and equipment in the Pokrovsk area. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are controlling the situation and holding their positions on the Pokrovsk front.
It is noted that the Russian army recently deployed experienced marine units to the Pokrovsk area and adjusted their tactics. The Russians are attempting to infiltrate the city in small groups or even individually, trying to avoid direct engagements with Ukrainian soldiers.
