Russia concentrates forces for assault near Siversk and Serebryansky Forest, Ukrainian military warns

Russian troops are concentrating resources in the Serebryansky Forest and in Siversk every day in preparation for assaults on Dronivka, Platonivka, and Zakitne, as well as to establish control over these settlements.

Units of the Slobozhanska Brigade are detecting enemy forces and equipment around the clock and striking them. In particular, air defense crews are destroying enemy reconnaissance and attack drones that constantly target Ukrainian positions.

This week, defenders used drones to detect and destroy a 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system that Russian forces had attempted to conceal in the Serebryansky Forest area.

The military said the enemy's main objective in this sector of the front remains establishing control over the coastal areas of the Siverskyi Donets River and securing dominant heights.

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If successful, the invaders would be able to use their weapons to strike the rear areas of Ukraine's Defense Forces.

The enemy's tactics remain unchanged: small assault groups of two to three soldiers attempt to infiltrate gaps between positions. At night, Russian troops use anti-thermal cloaks; during the day, they rely on camouflage suits and challenging weather conditions.

The brigade also released video footage showing the combat operations of an anti-aircraft missile battalion and unmanned systems units of the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade in the Sloviansk direction.

#RussianArmy is intensifying itspressure in the Sloviansk direction, #Donetsk region. To prepare for an assault, the enemy is accumulating manpower and equipment daily in the Serebrianske Forestry and the area around Siversk. pic.twitter.com/djI2sS7IGu

— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) January 28, 2026

Situation around Dronivka

The tense situation around Dronivka village, Donetsk region, became known as early as late 2025. In December, Russian propaganda outlets spread claims that the settlements of Serebrianka and Dronivka had allegedly been captured.

However, Ukraine's Armed Forces immediately denied these reports, stressing that the Defense Forces of Ukraine were holding positions within these settlements and along nearby defensive lines.

Despite this, tensions in the area continued to rise.

Since the beginning of the year, Russian troops have intensified the buildup of personnel and equipment in the Serebryansky Forest area, attempting to bypass Dronivka.

It was reported that small enemy infantry groups tried to infiltrate the settlement and outflank Ukrainian positions along the Siversk–Zakitne road.

In addition, the military earlier reported attempts by Russian forces to ferry troops across the river near Dronivka, Platonivka, and Zakitne, including from the Yampil direction. The occupiers used motorized rubber boats for these crossings.

The goal of these actions was to secure a foothold along the riverbank for the subsequent deployment of artillery and drones, as well as to establish control over key logistics routes.

However, Ukrainian defenders destroyed the enemy landing force and released footage showing the successful combat operation.

Serebryansky Forest

The Serebryansky Forest near Kreminna in the Luhansk region has become one of the fiercest areas of fighting. Since the autumn of 2022, intense positional battles have been ongoing there, destroying a significant portion of the forest.

The Serebryansky Forest is a unique area dominated mainly by pine trees, located on the border between the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Part of this forest is included in the local botanical nature reserve known as Serebrianskyi, which is managed by the state-owned enterprise Kreminna Forestry and Hunting Enterprise.

The forest begins on the outskirts of Kreminna and stretches for more than 107 hectares to the administrative border with the Donetsk region.

Earlier, Ukraine's Armed Forces showed how the war has transformed the once-legendary Serebryansky Forest.