Reporting from Ukraine

Frontline villages like Novomykhailivka and Pobieda key in blunting offensive. Control of supply routes critical - Ukraine manages to reclaim half of Pobieda in counterattack.

Russia has launched major operations around Kupiansk, a key railway hub, to support efforts to capture the entirety of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and necessary for attacking Kharkiv

The Russian command increase pressure in the direction of Ivanivske village despite mounting losses. They are likely anticipating that taking it would collapse the Ukrainian southern flank.

With fewer bombers dropping glide bombs, Ukrainian soldiers near Avdiivka are better positioned to hold ground

After Russian defense minister Shoigu falsely told Putin that Russian forces captured Krynky village in Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian forces released videos showing village still contested, prompting failed Russian attacks and deadly HIMARS strikes on Russian troop concentrations.

Russian tank and infantry attacks on Ukrainian lines at Orikhiv and Avdiivka are unsuccessful, while Russian air attacks west of Avdiivka lead Russia to lose multiple aircraft.

Graphic Avdiivka footage reveals the enormous losses Russia incurred assaulting entrenched Ukrainian positions, bodies seen covering the area.

In a strategic move to preserve manpower, Ukraine's military has begun withdrawing forces from the fiercely contested Avdiivka, facing both a massive Russian numerical advantage and shortages of artillery shells.

Ukrainian soldiers noted that due to the dynamic nature of the fighting, some glide bombs fell on Russian soldiers, but the Russian commanders did not care.

Facing Russian fire control over key logistics route, Ukraine reinforces its positions in Avdiivka likely preparing a comprehensive operation to push Russians back to their initial positions.

Ukraine's new Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has been handed to solve a very difficult problem in Avdiivka, where Russians recently penetrated the Ukrainian defense and entered the town from the north.

Russia crosses "death valley" killing field at night to access fortified Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, threatening encirclement of now cut-off Ukrainian defenders struggling to hold the critical town.

As Russian troops failed to breach Ukrainian defenses near Vuhledar, they attempted to bypass the town from the north and attack Novomykhailivka. However, Ukrainian counterattacks pushed the Russian troops back by more than 2 kilometers.

By targeting radars and communications, Ukraine has uncovered flaws in Russia's network of Crimean defenses, enabling an escalating missile and drone campaign.