May 22 Battle Situation Analysis: Russian Army Breaks Through the Defense Line in Donbas, Sumy Region May Become the New Focus

May 22 Battle Situation Analysis: Russian Army Breaks Through the Donbas Defense Line, Sumy Region May Become the New Focus

In the summer offensive launched weeks ago, the Russian army achieved a significant breakthrough. After tearing through the Ukrainian army's defense line along the Pokrovsk-Constandinovka highway, Russian forces have taken control of several villages north of the highway, targeting the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban cluster. Although the Ukrainian army has weak defenses in this area, the Russian advance is still hampered, buying time for the Ukrainian command to deploy reinforcements—however, these reserve forces can only be drawn from Sumy region, which is currently under Russian attack, and are extremely limited in number.

First, the core battleground of Donbas: the Pokrovsk-Constandinovka corridor

--Tactical encirclement: Since taking control of Volchanske over a year ago, the Russian army did not choose to bypass Pokrovsk from the north but instead advanced southward to capture dozens of settlements including Kurakhovo.

--Spring Offensive: In 2025, several brigade-level units and motorized infantry divisions were dispatched to the Kurakhovo direction. After breaking through the highway defense line in April, they divided their forces to advance eastward to Constandinovka (occupying Novoyelennovka) and westward to Pokrovsk (threatening to cut off the city's northern supply lines).

--Pincers Threat: The southern Russian forces are driving Ukrainian troops back from the outskirts of Donetsk to the Kleyban-Bik Reservoir, intending to encircle the Ukrainian forces west of Toretsk while opening up the supply route from Donetsk to Kramatorsk.

Second, the stalemate in Sumy: the dilemma of strategic reserves

--Cross-border tug-of-war: After retreating from Kursk Oblast to Sumy in March, the Ukrainian army failed to open a new front line in the border area of Belgorod Oblast.

--Defense Crisis: Russian forces have approached the suburbs of Yunkakovka, the Ukrainian logistics hub, although lacking sufficient manpower to capture Sumy city, they effectively tied down the Ukrainian reserves being sent to Donbas.

--Key Reinforcements: Only the Marine Brigade dispatched from Sumy supports the Pokrovsk direction, proving insufficient to alleviate multiple pressures.

Third, the northern offensive: Liman and North顿涅茨克 direction

--Double Encirclement: After occupying the village of Tolstoye, the northern Russian cluster attempted to press southward to the banks of the North顿涅茨克River, forming a three-sided encirclement of Slavyansk with the eastern forces that captured Verkhnyakemensk.

--Supply Network Sabotage: Drones continuously strike the Dobropolye-Kramatorsk highway located 30 kilometers behind the front lines, paralyzing the Ukrainian supply network.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832829492379660/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's views.