In a tactical failure, Russian forces attempting to cross the canal in Chasiv Yar and advance on the Novi District were swiftly encircled and eliminated by Ukrainian ambushes, losing two BMD infantry fighting vehicles, a Tiger armored car, and a T-90M tank.
Geolocated footage shows Russian military equipment digging trenches near Vovchansk, suggesting a change to a defensive posture after Ukrainian resistance halted Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast aimed at establishing a 20km buffer zone inside Ukraine's border.
The elite Kraken Special Operations unit, deployed in the Canal District of Chasiv Yar, successfully repelled dozens of Russian attempts to capture the town, forcing the Russian invading forces to change their tactics.
In a massive escalation around the strategic town of Krasnohorivka, Russian troops have launched a multi-pronged assault involving dozens of armored vehicles, devastating FAB-1500 glide bombs, and up to six attack helicopters, according to a Ukrainian officer.
Russian forces are beginning to show fatigue both in terms of equipment and personnel resources, while Ukrainian forces continue to show a remarkable ability to repel Russian attacks in the area.
Ukrainian forces swiftly dealt with three waves of Russian mechanized assaults, destroying at least 12 tanks and 8 infantry fighting vehicles, according to verified losses.
After heavy aerial bombardment, Russian infantry secured a 1 km bridgehead south of Chasiv Yar, establishing positions 500 meters from the town's eastern edge.
The village of Ivanivske, standing between Russians and Chasiv Yar town, has been leveled to the ground, while the Ukrainians' goal is to slow the Russian advance before the new defense line along the canal is ready.
Ukrainian forces face tough choices after massive Russian strikes: If Ukraine protects infrastructure, Russia will intensify bombardments on the front. If it secures the front, Russia will degrade Ukraine's defense industrial capacity.
Frontline villages like Novomykhailivka and Pobieda key in blunting offensive. Control of supply routes critical - Ukraine manages to reclaim half of Pobieda in counterattack.
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.
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.
This week, Ukrainian forces beat back two Russian assaults on Novomykhailivka, the eastern village in Donetsk Oblast, which serves as the main supply hub of the Ukrainian positions. The situation is expected to remain difficult
Ukrainian forces conducted a series of missile strikes on the Russian logistics and an airstrike on the Russian command headquarters responsible for the Avdiivka offensive to undermine the offensive.