After three weeks of hard fighting, the Ukrainian 1st Azov Corps and adjacent units have squeezed and cut up the 15-km salient that Russian infiltrators carved out of Ukrainian territory near the the village of Dobropillya, northeast of the fortress town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.

But Russian reinforcements are rolling in, opening a new—and unpredictable—phase in the battle for the Dobropillya salient. “The enemy’s penetration near Dobropillya remains a dynamic section on the front line where neither side can seize the initiative,” the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies noted.

It’s more apparent than ever that the Russian penetration toward Dobropillya, which sits astride one of two main supply roads into besieged Pokrovsk, was bigger and more dangerous than some analysts initially concluded.

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“Let’s start by describing what this absolutely is not: a breakthrough,” US analyst Andrew Perpetua asserted on Aug. 12. In fact, it was a breakthrough, albeit one that mostly moved at a walking pace.

Over a period of several months, the Russian 51st Combined Arms Army redeployed almost all of its brigades northeast of Pokrovsk, including the 1st, 5th, 9th, 110th and 132nd Motor Rifle Brigades. While the 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade slipped past empty Ukrainian trenches and marched on Dobropillya, the other four brigades attacked toward Rodynsky, at the bottom of the eventual salient.

Heavy Russian losses

The scale of the Ukrainian response, and the resulting spike in Russian losses, underscored the seriousness of the situation for Kyiv. If it had captured Dobropillya, the 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade would’ve cut the T0515 road, leaving the Ukrainian garrison in Pokrovsk dependent on just one other road threading into the town from the northwest—a road that itself is in danger of being overrun.

In addition to the 1st Azov Corps, Ukraine redeployed elements from the 79th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades, 1st and 425th Assault Regiments, 25th Assault Battalion, 2nd Battalion of the 92nd Assault Brigade, 32nd and 93rd Mechanized Brigades, 38th Marine Brigade, 14th National Guard Brigade and the Birds of Magyar drone brigade.

It’s a powerful Ukrainian force. And in the first few weeks of its counterattack, it enjoyed a decisive advantage in troops, tanks, armed ground robots and drones. The 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade’s troopers had marched toward Dobropillya “only with weapons in their hands,” Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Between Aug. 4 and 20, the Ukrainian corps killed, wounded or captured nearly 1,600 Russians, according to the the Ukrainian general staff in Kyiv. That’s nearly the entire front-line strength of the 132nd Motor Rifle Brigade.

But a few Russian survivors are still clinging to positions in Zolotyi Kolodyaz, at the top of the salient, and now the Russian 51st Combined Arms Army is deploying additional forces at the bottom of the salient.

Despite heavy losses and the near-destruction of its initial penetration toward Dobropillya, the 51st Combined Arms Army isn’t defeated—and probably won’t give up. The army “will try to advance as deeply as possible to Dobropillya,” CDS predicted.

And if it manages to finally capture the village, CDS predicted the 51st Combined Arms Army could “sharply worsen the prospects for the defense of not only Dobropillya and Pokrovsk, but also Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka” on the other side of the salient.

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Russia has concentrated 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast. According to experts, this number is enough to attack a European country. However, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi says that Russian forces attempting to advance in the sector lost their momentum after Ukrainian counteractions, RBC reports. 

Russia’s “thousand cuts” tactic

According to Syrskyi, Russia has been employing the tactic of “a thousand cuts” — advancing with small assault groups across a broad front. Recently, the occupiers managed to push 10–12 km deep. However, the situation changed after the elite units were redeployed.

“We cleared settlements and key areas, and the enemy’s victorious mood turned into despair. Their social media posts once had the tone of ‘forward, victory,’ but now it’s ‘surrounded, the end,’” Syrskyi stresses.

Ukrainian counteractions and Russia’s failure in Sumy Oblast

Ukrainian troops continue clearing villages in the Pokrovsk direction, including with the use of robots with machine guns with by the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. 

In the Sumy Oblast, Syrskyi notes, Russian forces has also suffered a major setback.

“There was a Russian grouping there composed of their best units — airborne troops, marines, and motor rifle brigades. Yet Russia has had no success in the past two months,” he underlines.

Weapons of the future

Syrskyi emphasizes that the top priority for Ukraine’s armed forces now is drones and robotic systems.

“First and foremost, we are talking about aerial drones, especially those with elements of artificial intelligence. In addition, this year 15,000 ground robotic platforms of various types will enter service,” he said.

Commenting on Kremlin claims that Russia could fight for “three, five, or ten more years,” Syrskyi concluded: “I think that’s just bravado.”

Ukrainian forces are reversing Russia’s attempted breakthrough near Dobropillia. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 18 August that Russian troops are struggling to turn their limited infiltration into a deeper advance as Ukrainian counterattacks reclaim settlements and cut off the penetration base.

This comes as Russia continues its all-out war against Ukraine, focusing on capturing the rest of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast. 

Ukrainian forces retake key settlements

Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets said Ukrainian troops had liberated Zapovidne (formerly Nykanorivka) and Dorozhnie, both southwest of Dobropillia. These villages were at the base of Russia’s push into the area. Geolocated footage published on 14 August and verified on 18 August shows Ukrainian forces detaining Russian soldiers in a windbreak southwest of Petrivka, northeast of Dobropillia. Additional footage published on 17 August shows Ukrainian troops raising a flag in Zolotyi Kolodyaz, confirming they had retaken the area after Russian forces previously entered it.

Russia unable to support or widen the penetration

ISW noted that Russian forces are struggling to turn their initial tactical gains into a wider breakthrough. Colonel Viktor Trehubov of Ukraine’s Dnipro Group of Forces said Ukrainian troops collapsed the Russian salient by cutting off infiltration elements from their main force, preventing supplies and reinforcements from reaching them.

Ukrainian flanks move faster than Russian forces

Mashovets reported that elements of Russia’s 150th Motorized Rifle Division, part of the 8th Combined Arms Army, attempted to bypass Volodymyrivka from the east. The move aimed to flank Ukrainian forces pressing on Russian units of the 51st Combined Arms Army between Zapovidne and Novotoretske. However, Ukrainian forces on the western side of the breach are advancing faster than Russian units in the east.

Russian brigades under pressure inside a narrow corridor

Mashovets said Russian forces inside the penetration — specifically the 5th, 110th, and 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigades — are fracturing under pressure and only holding a 2.5-kilometer-wide strip. A Russian milblogger warned the depth of the advance is too great for such a narrow width, making it vulnerable to counterattacks.

Russian focus shifts to another direction

ISW observed that Russian milbloggers are now focusing on the Rodynske direction, north of Pokrovsk and southeast of Dobropillia. This shift suggests a loss of confidence in the Dobropillia axis after failure to reinforce the original infiltration.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces cleared Pokrovsk of Russian infiltrators in Donetsk Oblast and liberated several surrounding villages near Dobropillia. On 17 August, the GenStaff said stabilization actions continue in the area as Ukrainian units fight to secure the frontline.

Ukrainian troops clear Pokrovsk and villages near Dobropillia

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the 7th Air Assault Corps, together with supporting units, eliminated Russian infiltrators in Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s Defense Forces also cleared Hruzke, Rubizhne, Novovodiane, Petrovka, Vesele, and Zolotyi Kolodiaz in Donetsk Oblast. The first corps of the National Guard Azov unit joined the battles and helped reclaim the villages.

The Deep State war zone monitoring map, updated on 16 August, shows that Ukrainian troops cut apart the recent Russian “double panhandle” breakthrough near Dobropillia and surrounded its northern prongs.

Russian forces suffer heavy losses in Donetsk Oblast

From 4 to 16 August, Ukrainian forces killed 910 Russian soldiers, wounded 335, and captured 37, according to the General Staff. Ukrainian strikes also destroyed eight tanks, six armored vehicles, 103 auto and motor vehicles, one multiple launch rocket system, 18 artillery guns, and 91 drones.

The General Staff said Ukrainian units continue stabilization operations near Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainian advance in Sumy Oblast

On 16 August, Ukrainian units advanced in several locations on the North Slobozhansky axis. In particular, the Defense Forces gained up to 1,000 meters near Yablunivka in Sumy Oblast, according to the General Staff.

Moscow prepares a new strike, but Kyiv will respond asymmetrically. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that in the coming days, Russia may sharply intensify its attacks, trying to create favorable conditions for negotiations. However, Ukraine is ready to counter the aggressor “asymmetrically, if needed.”

Ukrainian military successes in Donbas

According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Armed Forces units have been achieving success for the second day in a row on the toughest sections of the front, in the areas of Dobropillia and Pokrovsk.

“The destruction of occupiers who tried to infiltrate deep into our positions continues. Ukraine has received important additions to the exchange fund in the form of captured Russian soldiers,” the president states.

Gratitude to heroes and warning to the enemy

The Ukrainian president also praises the combat performance of the 79th and 82nd Air Assault Brigades, the 1st and 425th Assault Regiments, the 25th Battalion, and other units holding the defense in the Pokrovsk direction.

“We are recording the movement and preparations of Russian troops. Of course, we will respond, asymmetrically if needed,” Zelenskyy adds.

Earlier, we reported that the Trump-Putin meeting ended without signing a treaty or ceasefire agreement. At the same time, no sanctions were imposed on Russia or its main partner, China. The red carpet and warm reception for Putin, who launched Russia’s war that has killed 13,800 civilians, including children, sparked outrage around the world.

The 1st Corps of the National Guard Azov has taken defensive positions on the Pokrovsk front, moving to block Russian forces advancing in Donetsk Oblast, according to the corps’ official statement.

The recent Russian breakthrough towards Dobropillia threatens the defense of Pokrovsk. Russian forces have been trying to take the city and surrounding areas since early 2024. 

The deployment of one of Ukraine’s most disciplined and combat-experienced brigades comes as Russian forces have advanced more than 23 kilometers deep into Ukrainian positions toward the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road. 

Regular Ukrainian defensive units have proven unable to halt the advance in this critical sector, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The 23-kilometer Russian salient now sits equidistant between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka.  

Elite units replace faltering defenses

The corps moved into what has been described as “one of the most difficult sections of the front.” The area was previously defended by Tactical Group “Pokrovsk,” which “absolutely could not cope with defense on this section,” according to military sources.

“The situation remains complex and dynamic,” Azov stated. “The enemy, trying to advance in that direction, suffers significant losses in personnel and equipment.”

Corps units have “planned and implemented measures to block [Russian] forces in the designated area,” though results will be announced later.

Recent weeks saw intensified pressure, with three sabotage groups of 50 personnel each infiltrating Pokrovsk itself. Ukrainian forces eliminated approximately 120 attackers while capturing others. 100,000 Russian troops are currently stationed in the area. 

23-kilometer Russian salient threatens encirclement

Russian forces have dramatically expanded their breakthrough along the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka road. What began as a 10-kilometer salient in May 2025 near Malynivka, Nova Poltavka, and Novoolenivka has now extended to 23 kilometers.

On 11 August, DeepState analysts reported a Russian advance northeast of nearby Dobropillia, warning that “after final consolidation and accumulation, there will be mandatory attempts to move deeper into the territory.” 

Ukraine’s Dnipro command disputed the implications of these advances, stating that Russian infiltration attempts “never lead to territorial capture” and that Ukrainian troops have eliminated infiltrators “in the shortest possible time.”

Ukraine’s Dnipro command denies Russian control near Donetsk Oblast’s Dobropillia, saying troops eliminate every enemy infiltrator “in the shortest possible time.” The statement followed OSINT frontline-monitoring project DeepState’s map reporting Russian forces advanced into several settlements in the Pokrovsk sector, threatening key cities.

Dnipro command disputes reported Russian gains

The Operational-Strategic Grouping of Forces Dnipro, formerly Khortytsia, claims Russian forces attempt to infiltrate Ukrainian positions in the Dobropillia and Pokrovsk directions, but such actions never lead to territorial capture. The command explains that Russian troops, using their numerical advantage and suffering heavy losses, push small groups past the first defensive line.

Fierce battles but allegedly no lasting occupation

The Dnipro Grouping acknowledges the situation remains difficult and that fighting in the Pokrovsk sector is among the most intense on the entire front line. However, it claims that all infiltrating Russian groups face destruction in the shortest possible time. The command urges the public not to spread information from unverified or poorly informed sources.

The Dnipro command directly challenges this account, insisting the frontline near Dobropillia and Pokrovsk remains intact despite constant Russian attempts to break through.

Russian forces have made a limited breakthrough north of Pokrovsk, advancing about 15 kilometers and driving toward Dobropillia, according to the OSINT project DeepStateMap. The advance threatens a key logistics corridor and could deepen Russian penetration of Ukrainian defensive lines in Donetsk Oblast.

Russians advance 15 kilometers in five days

DeepState reports that Russian troops broke through a narrow front section. The enemy advanced approximately 15 kilometers into Ukrainian defensive positions over five days starting 7 August.

Militarnyi notes that DeepState analysts confirmed Russian penetration into Kucheriv Yar and Zolotyi Kolodiaz settlements. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces map confirms the breakthrough as of 8:00 AM on 11 August 2025.

Russian infantry units infiltrated Vesele village from Kucheriv Yar through tree lines. DeepState observed about twenty enemy soldiers accumulating in this village over the past day.

Russians target critical infrastructure

Russia continues developing success toward the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk highway. Russian infantry appeared near Novovodiane and Petrivka as they push forward.

The Zolotyi Kolodiaz and Shakhove area contains new heavy engineering fortifications under construction. Enemy forces bypass these structures and may later occupy them for defensive purposes.

Strategic implications threaten multiple cities

The narrow breakthrough spans approximately 15 kilometers deep and 5-6 kilometers wide according to DeepState’s evening map on 11 August. This wedge formation creates operational risks for Ukrainian forces.

DeepState warns that without rapid stabilization, Dobropillia faces immediate danger. The entire Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration defense group risks encirclement. The breakthrough also threatens Kostiantynivka from another flank.

Ukrainian forces hold key positions

Ukrainian serviceman “Bakhmut Demon” reports on Telegram that the situation remains difficult near Kostiantynivka-Dobropillia. He confirms Ukrainian forces still hold Pokrovsk despite heavy fighting.

“We cannot be terminators while others live life,” the serviceman wrote. He attributes Russian breakthroughs to personnel shortages in Ukrainian ranks.

The serviceman notes positive developments in Sumy Oblast where Ukrainian forces advance. He emphasizes that Ukrainian troops maintain positions in both Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk.

Russian tactics exploit Ukrainian weaknesses

DeepState explains that Russian infantry group assault tactics cause extremely high losses among attackers. However, critical Ukrainian infantry shortages allow this costly strategy to succeed.

Russian command shows no concern for casualties among “volunteers.” The constant influx of replacements enables continued human wave attacks despite massive losses.

After consolidating positions, Russians will attempt deeper territorial penetration and breakthrough expansion. Enemy drone teams will deploy to complicate Ukrainian logistics and position retention.

The narrow salient offers opportunities if Ukrainian reserves act quickly. While surrounding enemy forces may prove difficult, controlling their logistics could trap Russian units operationally.

Russia’s total infiltration in Pokrovsk has failed as Ukraine’s top general Syrskyi says Russian attempts to slip inside were stopped fast. The commander-in-chief described how the army adapts to this tactic on several threatened directions and why the Pokrovsk sector in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most difficult areas.

Ukraine blocks total infiltration in Pokrovsk

Syrskyi wrote on Facebook on 2 August that Russian forces try a tactic of the so-called “total infiltration,” aiming to push through defenses without a large assault. He said these efforts include hidden movements toward Pokrovsk and other parts of Donetsk Oblast. According to him, these infiltration moves have been crushed before they reach their targets.

Syrskyi explained that he spent the day visiting all command posts of the Armed Forces and National Guard units holding the Pokrovsk direction. He said he met the commander of drone forces, corps commanders, and brigade commanders. During these meetings, they reviewed the battlefield conditions and planned how to strengthen defenses in areas where Russian pressure is growing.

The general said the situation is currently most dangerous on Pokrovsk, Dobropillia, and Novopavlivka directions. Russian forces seek weak spots, intensify their activity, and try to capture important Ukrainian urban areas. Syrskyi said Ukraine is countering total infiltration with special mobile reserves, whose role is to search for and destroy these teams before they can create problems inside the lines.

He stressed that the focus remains on improving fortifications. Syrskyi discussed with commanders how to reinforce positions with engineering work, minefields, barriers, and underground structures that protect against drones. He said this work continues but must be more active, broad, and complex.

Advancements

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in its 2 August daily reports that “Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Novopavlivka and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk.”

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