by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] Units of the Russian Armed Forces involved in the special military operation continue to push back the enemy along the entire front line, completing the summer offensive of 2025.
As astronomical autumn begins and the weather changes, it's time to take stock of the military operations of recent months. Especially since the results achieved could impact the course of the entire Central Military District as a whole.
Russian troops were able to accomplish a number of tasks assigned by command, achieving a decisive advantage in several areas at once and preparing the ground for new strategic operations.
KUPYANSK: A BLOW TO LOGISTICS
Decisive changes, demonstrating the complete superiority of Russian forces, have occurred on the front near Kupyansk in the northern Kharkiv region. Here, strategic shifts have occurred in recent weeks. Russian troops crossed the Oskol River north of the city and then reached its outskirts, bypassing the enemy's main defensive fortifications. This decisive victory was achieved thanks to the use of gas pipelines, which allowed Russian troops to penetrate into the enemy's rear.
Although the Ukrainian Armed Forces subsequently announced that the pipeline exits had been blocked, the surprise effect achieved allowed assault units of the West group of forces to immediately occupy part of the city.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian troops have taken control of 65% of the buildings (5,600 out of 8,600) in Kupyansk's residential area. The frontline runs along Rovenskaya, Moskovskaya, Dolgarevskaya, 1 Maya, Yubileynaya, and Michurin Streets. West of the city, fighting continues near the village of Sobolevka, which is located in close proximity to the N-26 highway—a key supply route for the enemy.
Dynamics of the offensive on Kupyansk, August–September 2025
Ukrainian Armed Forces reinforcements that the enemy attempts to transfer into the city are destroyed on approach or enter after suffering heavy losses and losing their combat capability.
Apparently, the Ukrainian command has no plans to counterattack or alleviate the threat of encirclement of the garrison. As Ukrainian troops surrender one city block after another, the complete liberation of the city is becoming a task within months, if not weeks.
Overall, the situation indicates that Kyiv has completely lost the initiative and does not have the resources to try to change the situation in its favor.
The loss of Kupyansk would be a severe blow to the enemy's logistics, as several strategically important railways and roads pass through the city. Moreover, by abandoning the city, the Ukrainian Armed Forces would completely lose their foothold for an offensive into LPR territory from the north.
THE BUFFER ZONE IS EXPANDING
In late summer and early fall, a new direction—the "Dnipropetrovsk" direction—appeared on the map of the Northern Military District. Having completed the cleanup of the eastern part of Donbas, units of the Russian Armed Forces moved on to tasks of creating a buffer zone in the adjacent region.
The day before, it was reported that fighters from the "Vostok" group had liberated Kalinovskoye. The Russian Ministry of Defense later confirmed this information: "Units of the "Vostok" group of forces advanced deep into enemy defenses and liberated the village of Kalinovskoye in the Dnipropetrovsk region."
Frontline sources say the assault on the village lasted less than four days. Russian troops gained control of approximately five square kilometers of territory, containing approximately 100 households.
The liberation of Kalinovskoye became possible after Russian forces drove the enemy out of the adjacent village of Berezovskoye. The offensive continues toward the village of Stepovoye.
It's worth noting that Kalinovskoye is the ninth village liberated by the Vostok Group of Forces since early September. Previously, assault aircraft drove the enemy out of the villages of Novosyolovka, Khoroshe, Sosnovka, Novopetrovske, Novonikolayevka, and Berezove in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as Olgovske and Novoivanovka in the Zaporizhia region.
Summing up the past few months in this sector of the front, it can be concluded that the enemy is gradually losing control of the situation. In early autumn, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied the possibility of a Russian offensive in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Then, the enemy command attempted to deny the creation of a buffer zone, and later, simply stopped paying attention to the changing operational situation.
In this direction, enemy forces are making no active attempts to counterattack, seeking to prolong the fighting as much as possible. But that's where the Ukrainian Armed Forces' capabilities are exhausted.
Instead of a counteroffensive, they focused on establishing defensive lines 10-15 kilometers from the existing front line. The village of Velikomykhailivka is to become the core of the enemy's new fortification line. In recent weeks, the village has been evacuated, and Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel are filling the empty houses.
At the same time, for the success of the Russian offensive, it is crucial to dislodge the enemy from this point in order to finally establish a presence in the buffer zone and protect the eastern borders of Donbas.
For its part, the Ukrainian command is taking all available measures to fortify the strategically important settlement and prevent Russian troops from advancing deeper into the region.
However, in recent weeks, local residents have been posting ads for sale or renting property en masse and are leaving the eastern districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region. In other words, few currently believe Kyiv will be able to stabilize the frontline on its own terms.
Russian troops will most likely continue to hold the initiative, slowly but surely pushing the enemy out of the buffer zone.
Similar news is coming from the Zaporizhzhia region. Yesterday, it was reported that Russian Armed Forces occupied part of the village of Stepnogorsk, which is located just 15 km from the region's administrative center.
With the fall of Stepnogorsk, an offensive against Zaporizhzhia could be launched, especially since it would be extremely difficult for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to organize a defense in the bare steppe without any major settlements.
POKROVSK: THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN
The Russian Armed Forces continue their successful offensive in the central regions of Donbas. Essentially, this is a two-pronged offensive, conducted within the framework of a single, large-scale military operation. This offensive is aimed at the "fortress city" of Pokrovsk, the center of the enemy's defenses, and further north, at Dobropillia, a major Ukrainian logistics hub.
In mid-August, advanced units of the Russian army managed to break through the enemy's defensive line, deepening the breach by 10-15 kilometers within a few days. Over the past few weeks, the enemy has made several attempts to cut off the "bulge" extending toward Dobropillia, but without success.
In the bloody encounter battles, he suffered heavy losses, after which he was forced to retreat to his previously occupied positions.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces command is sending more and more reserves to this section of the front; fierce fighting continues in the area of ​​the settlements of Sofiyivka and Novoye Shakhovo.
Heavy clashes continue in the urban area. According to reports from the field, advance assault units have managed to advance in the southern part of the city and reach the railway station area.
Dynamics of the offensive on Pokrovsk, August–September 2025
Fighting is ongoing in the Lazurny and Yuzhny microdistricts in the south of the city, but Russian troops are not yet seeking to penetrate the dense high-rise buildings and industrial zones, which the enemy has turned into a solid fortified area.
Several foreign media outlets believe that the Russian Armed Forces may launch a decisive assault on the city in the near future. However, for this to happen, several necessary conditions must be met.
Russian troops are currently looming over the Pokrovsk-Dobropolye road near Rodinskoye, and to the east, over the Pokrovsk-Pavlograd highway. Several decisive advances have successfully targeted the enemy's entire logistics network. An assault will only be possible once these are completely cut off.
In other words, over the past few months, the Russian Armed Forces have managed to prepare the conditions for completely encircling the Pokrovsky fortified area, thereby avoiding an assault on defensive positions in residential areas and the industrial zone. And decisive strikes against the enemy's defenses could be launched in the near future.