Ukrainian forces have dismissed claims of a significant breakthrough by Russian troops near Dobropillia in the Donetsk region. Colonel Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the Dnipro operational-strategic group, clarified in a Facebook statement that the enemy is employing small infantry units attempting to infiltrate Ukrainian defenses by bypassing the front line. This strategy may create an illusion of a breakthrough on interactive maps that rely on open-source information, reports 24brussels.
Trehubov emphasized that the situation involves not a mass advance of Russian forces but rather incremental movements by small groups.
“As these groups advance, they engage in fire contact with Ukrainian electronic warfare teams or drone operators, and they attempt to regroup,” Trehubov noted. “However, it is crucial to understand that they have not captured this territory. We are talking about a small group of Russians numbering 5 to 10 individuals. It is far from what it appears on the map.”
When trying to breach the defenses, Russian soldiers often seek cover, such as in basements. As a precaution, additional forces have been dispatched to the area — the Azov unit reported that reinforcements have already arrived to eliminate the enemy.
The situation in the Donetsk region is critical. Russian forces have reportedly breached Ukrainian defenses near Dobropillia, putting Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad on the brink of encirclement, with Kostiantynivka also facing a semi-encirclement. Enemy troops are advancing toward Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka, while “the lines of combat contact, as they once existed, no longer exist.” Experts assert that this situation stems from miscalculations warned against over the past 18 months. If Russian armored groups succeed in flanking Ukrainian positions, the front line could dramatically shift, altering tens or even hundreds of square kilometers daily, reminiscent of events in 2022.
