Everything is gone, "the pocket" has closed —— the offensive has not yet begun: a summary of the frontlines in the special military operation.

The Ukrainian media reported that near Konstantinovka, the Ukrainian army "has lost everything." The "pocket" that had been long controlled by the Russians has been closed. However, this is not yet Russia's summer offensive.

Russian troops are breaking through enemy lines in the Konstantinov direction. Military experts say that Russia's summer offensive is about to begin.

Russian border

For days, both sides have been using hundreds of drones and missiles for large-scale mutual attacks. Although the Ukrainian army launches hundreds of suicide drones at Russian regions every night, most of their attacks have little effect. Meanwhile, Ukraine's air defense system can no longer cope with Russia's missile-drone strikes. Explosions occurred in Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv the previous day. It is known that attacks hit Ukrainian military factories, airports, and warehouses. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strike effects were significant.

The standoff on the border continues. The main Ukrainian forces are concentrated towards Kursk Oblast, frequently using sabotage reconnaissance teams, still aiming to breakthrough to Zhetikino.

"Special Forces Group GRU 'Northern' reported that Russian drone operators discovered the movements of the assault force of the 24th Mechanized Brigade near Rzhefka-Zhetikino on the Kursk border. Most of the Ukrainian infantry have been annihilated, and the rest are retreating. At noon, the assault group of the 425th Homeland Defense Battalion from Pavlovka advanced towards Novy Put, but was suppressed by firepower. Fighting continues near Belovodsk, Yunkovka, and Vodolagi in the Sumy direction." —— Report by "Two Majors."

Nearby summer offensive

Western and Russian military experts both believe that Russian troops will further increase their actions on the frontlines this summer. Russia's goals for the summer offensive include fully liberating the Donbas region and stabilizing access to Sumy, Dnipro, and Kharkiv Oblasts, or at least seeking Ukraine's withdrawal from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in negotiations with Kiev.

There are also reports that a 300-kilometer-wide buffer demilitarized zone will be established along the entire Russian border. This means that Russian forces will occupy large areas of Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv Oblasts, possibly pushing Ukrainian forces back to the Dnieper River.

Important and active offensive operations continue in the Konstantinov direction. Military experts assess that the task of Russian troops here is to encircle the fortress city of Konstantinovka from the flank, forcing the Ukrainian army to retreat. If successful, Russian troops will advance towards the major cities in the Donetsk region that have not yet been liberated, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. Additionally, breakthroughs in this direction will make the defensive lines of Ukrainian forces in Toretsk, Chasovoyar, and Pokrovsk completely meaningless or even dangerous —— they may face the risk of being surrounded on a large scale. Currently, Russian troops are rapidly breaking through Ukrainian defensive lines in this direction: Romanovka has been captured, and the assault force has entered Yabloonovka and continued advancing.

"Yuriy Yelpek (German journalist and anti-Russian military expert) said that near Konstantinovka, the Ukrainian army 'has lost everything.' A large 'pocket' that the Ukrainian army had claimed to have 'heroically held' online for an entire week has been closed and cleared. About 12 kilometers away from the city, artillery has already covered the area. And this is not yet Russia's summer offensive." —— Author of the Telegram channel "Military Chronicles" noted.

Other directions

"Two Majors" reported: "Fighting is ongoing near Kotlyarovka, Troitskoye, Novy Nikolayevka, and Novy Sergeyevka southwest of Pokrovsk. Russian forces are attempting to advance in this area toward western Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to flatten the frontline."

Another important direction is South Donetsk. The Ukrainian army is trying to block Russian forces here, deploying NATO-equipped Ukrainian infantry in the counteroffensive. There were five such attacks in Bogatyr and Zelenoye Pole within one day, all ending in failure.

"Eastern" GRU Special Forces are advancing northwest of the liberated Bogatyr and north of the recently captured Ottradnoye. They are currently assaulting Zelenoye Pole, and Russian forces have entered the village center. Fighting around Novy Bor continues, with reports that Russian forces have captured an important hill." —— Author of the Telegram channel "Two Majors" wrote.

Battlefield reporter Yevgeny Lysitsyn stated in his Telegram channel: "In the Lyman sector, fighting continues in the Tolstoye area, where Russian forces have made progress in the center of Redkodub. Additionally, Russian forces effectively struck the defense positions and equipment assembly points near Zarichne in Tolstoye with thermobaric bombs."

The situation on the Zaporizhzhia front remains stable. The local terrain is unfavorable for rapid breakthroughs in Ukrainian defenses. Moreover, the enemy is heavily using drones in the south.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7508672103034389028/

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