Situation on the Kostyantynivka & Druzhkivka directions, Donetsk Oblast:

Over the last few weeks, Russian forces continued their offensive operations in the Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka areas, although their primary focus has shifted away from capturing the rest of Kostyantynivka to advancing on the flanks.

In the west, after the initial breakthrough towards Druzhkivka from the southwest, Russian forces began expanding the width of their breach, pushing estwards through the treelines onto the tactical heights, and further towards the gullies west of Mykolaipillya. Attacks are also taking place towards the village of Raiske.

To the east, the Russians cleared a number of advanced Ukrainian strongpoints west of Stepanivka and expanded their zone of infiltration further north into the forested gullies. Additionally, after capturing the village of Rozkishne, Russian assault groups advanced further northwest and captured the eastern part of Mykolaipillya, which has allowed them to launch assault operations on the treelines to the north. Ukrainian forces cleared out some of the earlier Russian infiltrations in the nearby forested gullies.

To the northeast, Russian forces established control over most of the remaining fields west of Kostyantynivka and expanded their zone of infiltration into the western part of Oleksijevo-Druzhkivka. Some DRGs even managed to reach the nearby village of Kindrativka, on approach to Druzhkivka. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to periodically enter the northwestern parts of Kostyantynivka, where clashes occasionally occur with Russian soldiers. Russian infiltrators continue to approach southeastern Oleksijevo-Druzhkivka from the direction of Kostyantynivka.

Further northeast, after capturing the village of Molocharka, the Russians improved their positions to the north, west, and northwest, infiltrating the villages of Stinky and Izhevka. From there, Russian DRGs began infiltrating the village of Kurtiivka, while ordinary assault groups expanded their zone of infiltration to the outskirts of Popasne.

To the east, Russian forces continued slowly clearing out the remnants of the salient west of Chasiv Yar, improving their positions in and around the villages of Chervone and Mykolaivka. Other assault groups captured some new positions along the railway line and re-entered the eastern part of Virolyubivka, threatening to physically encircle the remaining Ukrainian formations still present west of Chasiv Yar.

+ ~53.77 km² in favour of Russia.
+ ~1.50 km² in favour of Ukraine.

Interactive map: amkmapping.com

Geolocated confirmed vehicle losses have been compiled and released for August 2026. Credit to HeyHeyHayden and LostArmour.

In total, Russia lost 31 armoured vehicles whilst Ukraine lost 205.

A ratio of 1:6.6 in favour of Russia.

Excluding armoured cars and MRAPs, which Ukraine use in a large number behind the front whilst Russia barely does at all,

Russia lost 30 vehicles whilst Ukraine lost 98.

A ratio of 1:3.3 in favour of Russia.

In regard to self-propelled artillery, which is an important indicator of capacity to inflict attrition, Russia lost 10 vehicles whilst Ukraine lost 39.

A ratio of 1:3.9 in favour of Russia.

No major changes in ratios compared to previous months. Unfortunately, Ukraine is continually on the wrong end of a huge attritional mismatch against a far larger power with a fully mobilised domestic war economy.

One thing I will mention is the growing number of strikes taking place in and around the fortress belt in Donetsk Oblast.

Following Russia effectively taking control of Kostyantynivka (bar some fighting in the outermost streets) and pushing the frontline up and over the Siverksyi-Donets canal their drone operators have been able to move forward and are now in a position to launch constant strikes. Drones are constantly surveying the cities and surrounding areas, leading to many vehicles being detected in their hiding places or as they try travel along the roads.

As has happened with all town/city battles over the past two years, over time Ukraine will be forced to decrease and eventually stop their vehicle usage as it will simply be too dangerous to try operate artillery or tanks within the cities, whilst other vehicles will be constantly struck as they attempt to get into or out of these localities. They can try to maintain stable supply and reinforcement but as happened with Kostyantynivka and Pokrovsk/Myrnorhad they will incur a constant number of vehicle losses each day just to achieve this, which will escalate over time as the frontline moves closer and alternative routes are cut. These vehicle losses add up and every day spent trying to hold the localities will result in a higher cost, eventually leading to Ukraine being forced to switch to an on-foot or drone only supply. This will buy them more time but is not a solution, as drones are simply not capable/flexible enough to make up for proper vehicle supply chains, whilst soldiers on foot is too manpower intensive and costly to maintain.

Now all this is a long way off, certainly not until 2027 for Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, but we are in the beginning stages of this cycle. Keep an eye out for an increase in vehicle losses (both military and civilian/generic) in and around the fortress cities as the frontline closes in and the supply pressure starts to mount.

Situation on the Dobropillya direction, Donetsk Oblast:

Over the last two weeks, Russian forces continued their assault operations in the Dobropillya direction, making new advances and deepening their DRG infiltrations.

In the northeast, Russian forces recaptured most of Kucheriv Yar along with the positions in the forests to the south, allowing them to begin infiltrating north towards the village of Vesele. Other assault groups continued infiltrations towards Zolotyi Kolodyaz and into Rubizhne, while DRGs were detected operating along the railway line northwest of Rubizhne.

To the southwest, Russian forces improved their positions along the railway lines west of Novyi Donbas and continued attacking Ukrainian positions in the fields to the south. Other Russian assault groups continued infiltrating the northeastern part of Dobropillya, while DRGs are infiltrating north to the outskirts of Bilozerske and west to Svyatohorivka. Ukrainian forces are actively counterattacking in Dobropillya, trying to clear the city from Russian infiltrators.

To the south, Russian forces cleared the remaining parts of Shevchenko and began assault operations on Matyasheve. Other assault groups continued fighting for Bilytske, Chernihivka, Krasnopodillya and Dobropillya village. Russian DRGs were also detected in the vicinity of Nadiya, while fighting continued for the treelines northeast of Myrne. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces cleared some positions south of Hulive from earlier Russian infiltrations, while Russian forces continued assault operations west along the southern bank of the Hrishynka River.

+ ~12.53 km² in favour of Russia.
+ ~3.27 km² in favour of Ukraine.

Interactive map: amkmapping.com

Overnight, Russia carried out an attack on Odesa Oblast using Geran-2 drones and Geran-4 jet-drones.

The explosions were partially masked by a large thunderstorm hitting the region at the time (as seen in the video), although strikes were recorded targeting the Chornomorsk Port area, as well as border crossings and ferry terminals along the Ukraine-Romania international border near Orlivka and the city of Izmail.

Ukrainian channel on the situation in Kramatorsk overnight, as the frontline approaches the city.

Ukrainian NABU (National anti-corruption bureau) & SAPO (specialised anti-corruption prosecutors office) have stormed the headquarters of the prosecutor general of Ukraine.

Kyiv independent reports that Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko could be implicated and NABU has detained the deputy head of the international cooperation department of the prosecutor generals office.

This comes after the shootout between GUR & SBU in Kyiv, and a suspect drone strike on the SBU headquarters.

There's limited, but in-depth reporting that there's increased factional fighting among elites over the division of the profits from the scam call centres.
With some figures suggesting this network of scam calls employs 60,000 people and makes $1 billion a month

I removed an earlier post I made about an AI generated video of a Ukrainian flag being raised over the Kinburn Spit after it came to my attention that it was misleading.

I was under the impression that it was posted by a Ukrainian military channel, and reposted by @union_klen, but apparently it was sent to them via DMs by a scammer.

This video was not an attempt by the Ukrainian military to deceive people into thinking a landing operation on Kinburn Spit had taken place, but instead a random person trying to trick a small channel. The post made it sound like this was them criticising the Ukrainian military for using AI (which has happened before with other units such as Skala), but instead they were making fun of the scammer who sent it to them.

Apologies for the confusion.

There will be some major Lyman developments soon 👀

Can't say much right now, but I will write more when I can.

Russian FPV drones continue to race through the streets of Slovyansk, hitting Ukrainian military vehicles used for logistics.

For the first time ever, Deepstate has admitted to Russian consolidation within Kostyantynivka city.

For reference, the first Russian capture of parts of Kostyantynivka occurred around 10 months ago, in early-November 2025.