Ukrainian forces push back and hold ground in Russian Kursk and Belgorod regions, army chief says
Photo: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine)
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported his participation in a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The discussion focused on the frontline situation and the provision of supplies for the military.
Syrskyi briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the situation at the front, particularly in the most intense areas — Pokrovsk, Lyman, Novopavlivka, and Northern Slobozhanskyi. According to the Commander-in-Chief, there were 188 combat engagements with the enemy in the past 24 hours alone, during which Russian forces lost over 1,000 soldiers.
"I emphasized the actions of our units in active defense — preventing the enemy from advancing deep into our defenses in the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka directions and from reaching the administrative borders of Dnipropetrovsk region," he noted.
Syrskyi separately highlighted the restoration and holding of positions in Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions. He stated that Ukrainian forces continue to pin down a significant enemy grouping in the border areas, and the enemy "will find no peace there."
The Staff meeting also addressed strengthening and improving the unmanned component of defense. Syrskyi clarified that this involves protecting rear cities, countering enemy assaults on the front line, and launching DeepStrike attacks on Russian territory.
"I'm closely monitoring the development of drone interceptor units. New crews are being formed, and drone hunters are in training. Our military needs as many of these high-tech UAVs as possible," he added.
As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced yesterday that he had convened the meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
“The occupiers will have no peace there. We had a very detailed conversation about drones — we must significantly expand the use of all types of drones, especially those that help directly on the front line,” Zelenskyy said.
Situation in the Pokrovsk direction
Earlier, we reported that the Pokrovsk direction — specifically the city of Pokrovsk — remains one of the hottest areas on the front. In early May, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Ukraine's Defense Forces had stabilized the situation in the Pokrovsk area of the Donetsk region.
However, according to ISW, in the coming months, the Russian army is expected to try to encircle Pokrovsk and outflank the fortified defense line in the Donetsk region from the west.
