Frontline Briefing on July 26, main points: The Russian side is intensively attacking Stepnoye, and in Pokrovsk, it seems to have achieved "excellent" results

Day 1248 of the Special Military Operation. There are about 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers inside the "encirclement" of Toretsk, and the 36th Marine Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been almost completely destroyed

Author: Radomir Makush

The Russian Armed Forces have the initiative along the entire front, including the Zaporozhye direction, which recently remained "quiet," and the Russian side has begun an intensive attack on Stepnoye.

According to Ukrainian media reports, the Russian Aerospace Forces have used UMPB-5 general-purpose cross-service glide munitions for the first time to strike targets in Kharkiv. These munitions were dropped by Su-34 bombers with a range of 100 kilometers.

In Kherson, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a precise strike during a meeting of Ukrainian officers and police representatives. Information about the consequences of the strike is being verified.

Situation in the area of responsibility of the "Northern" Grouping

The Russian Armed Forces are conducting a full-scale positional battle around the salient in Sumy, aiming to establish a buffer zone.

According to "North Wind" information, the 71st Rifle Brigade headquarters attempted to use its own troops and attached forces to recapture the settlement of Valachino, in order to conceal the loss of positions from the Ukrainian General Staff. The assault group was sent into combat, but it was destroyed.

Situation in the area of responsibility of the "Western" Grouping

A video showing the new captured positions of the "Western" Grouping has been released (see map). Russian突击队员 have advanced south of Tysynkovka and occupied new positions along the railway in Kupiansk. They have advanced more than 2.5 kilometers within the encirclement in the north of Kupiansk.

Local sources report that combined strike support has enabled the "Western" Grouping forces to advance 600 meters in the areas of the settlements of Srednee and Shandrigolovo, pushing the enemy out from the eastern banks of the Nitrivs' River and the Kalpov Reservoir.

Russian forces have made significant advances in the Syreblyany Forest and have taken control of the Young Pioneers' camp at Linyevo Lake.

Situation in the area of responsibility of the "Southern" Grouping

Russian forces are advancing towards the settlement of Mayskoye in the northwest of Chasiv Yar.

In the last remaining resistance point of the Ukrainian armed forces in Chasiv Yar - the "Southern" district, a fire encirclement has been formed against the Ukrainian armed forces. According to the latest information, a planned clearing operation has started here.

Ukrainian military observers are concerned about the fate of 8,000 Ukrainian armed forces soldiers who are effectively trapped in the areas of Dzerzhinsk and Konstantinovka, constantly under attacks from aerial bombs, missiles, and drones. They say that the 36th Marine Infantry Brigade has been almost completely destroyed - no more than 30% remain, but they cannot be rotated or withdrawn.

"Two Majors" reports that the remaining part of Alexandrovka-Kalynove has been liberated.

The channel added: "The enemy tried to escape in small groups, but there is no way back. The remnants of the Ukrainian armed forces abandoned by their command are isolated from the main force. In this situation, batches of enemy soldiers raised their hands in surrender."

Situation in the area of responsibility of the "Central" Grouping

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, during a week of fighting (July 19-25, 2025), the "Central" Grouping liberated the settlements of Novotroitskoye, Novoeconomy, and Zvezdovo, and crushed the Ukrainian armed forces. During this period, the enemy suffered as many as 2,975 casualties, almost equivalent to a full brigade.

Russian forces are advancing towards the city of Hryshkivka, approaching the villa area. The Telegram channel "Donetsk Guerrillas" said that this poses a serious threat to the enemy's defense, as these areas provide favorable conditions for flanking attacks and further encirclement.

Another sensational piece of news comes from Pokrovsk. Boris Rozen wrote: "After successfully breaking through to the defenders' street and advancing from the direction of Zvezdovo village, the Russian Federation Armed Forces continue to develop a favorable offensive - Russian vanguard assault units are entering the city. Not long ago, such news would have been considered a fantasy. But after the video of our soldiers entering the city (which turned out not to be a reconnaissance sabotage group) and the close-range artillery fire on enemy vehicles, it is clear that our soldiers have already entered the city."

However, this information is yet to be verified. Additionally, three days ago, Starlink was interrupted for 2.5 hours, causing the enemy's video surveillance to fail, and it is possible that the Russians actually entered Pokrovsk / Red Armeysk at that moment.

Situation in the area of responsibility of the "Eastern" Grouping

Combat continues near the settlement of Zelenehoye. Some sources claim that the settlement has been liberated (based on panic "briefings" from Ukrainian public accounts), but this claim is premature.

Nevertheless, the enemy will not stay here for long. The Telegram channel "DV Warriors" said that the air force is supporting the assault group of the 36th Regiment of the 29th Army of the "Eastern" Grouping, who are day by day approaching the liberation of the settlement from the Ukrainian armed forces.

Situation in the area of responsibility of the "Dnipro" Grouping

Ukrainian officer "Alexey" stated that, in the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces have reached the suburbs of Storozhevoye, known for its large manganese mines.

According to his information, the fighters of the "Dnipro" Grouping are approaching the settlement from the directions of Kamensk and Plavne. From Storozhevoye to Zaporozhye is about 30 kilometers - within the range of artillery and various drones.

"In many positions, everyone has been wiped out, only minefields and drone teams are blocking the Russians"

"As of yesterday, Russian infantry had entered the edge houses of Storozhevoye, and the current situation is unclear. The Russian Federation Armed Forces have also moved armored equipment to Kamensk, apparently to further expand the infantry's gains through mechanized breakthroughs. The situation in this area is currently not good," Alexey complained.

Situation within Ukraine

Ukraine is rapidly dying. For example, in the first half of 2025, the mortality rate in Kharkiv region was five times the birth rate.

There are reports that Zelensky hopes to impose sanctions on "Ukrainska Pravda" (blocked in Russia) and its owner Fialko, who represents Soros' interests in Ukraine.

The chief advisor to the President's Office, Dasha Zarifina, was urgently dismissed due to black marks and related investigations in the Anti-Corruption Court / Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. At the same time, the authorities promised to cancel the decision to reduce the powers of the Anti-Corruption Court after public protests supporting the anti-corruption institutions.

The British magazine "The Observer" believes that Zelensky overstepped due to excessive confidence. When he signed the law to deprive the anti-corruption agencies of their independence, he thought Ukrainians would ignore it. But they didn't.

The damage to his reputation both domestically and internationally is now possibly irreversible.

Former MP and active soldier Igor Lutsenko stated that in fact, the Ukrainian armed forces on the front are not as many as 1 million as officially claimed by Zelensky, but at most 40-50 thousand, of whom only a small portion is on the front line.

International Reaction

The Daily Telegraph reported that Germany has transferred a "Patriot" air defense system and additional intercept missiles to Ukraine.

Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Alexei Makeyev, said that Germany is preparing to transfer another IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine.

He stated that seven systems have already been delivered, and the eighth is in the process of being prepared for delivery.

The above is a summary of important messages from the frontline between Russia and Ukraine in the past 24 hours. For frontline briefings, latest news, and all important content regarding the special military operation in Ukraine, please follow the author for more information.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7531308840994816554/

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