AIRSTRIKE MAP :
As usual, I continue to map Russian airstrike campaign. In August, hundreds of new strikes targeted Donbas, with the first massive strikes into the central cities.
High concentration near Dobropilla, in Drujkivka, as well as between both cities. Some strikes behind Kramatorsk and Sloviansk and some usual strikes east of Sloviansk. With around 1 650 airstrikes in 20 days, we have approximately 35 daily airstrike on this single frontline area (and I didn't check inside Kramatorsk and Sloviansk).
As usual, I continue to map Russian airstrike campaign. In August, hundreds of new strikes targeted Donbas, with the first massive strikes into the central cities.
High concentration near Dobropilla, in Drujkivka, as well as between both cities. Some strikes behind Kramatorsk and Sloviansk and some usual strikes east of Sloviansk. With around 1 650 airstrikes in 20 days, we have approximately 35 daily airstrike on this single frontline area (and I didn't check inside Kramatorsk and Sloviansk).
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FPV DRONES USAGE : There is an increased number of FPV drone strikes on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, as well as in and around both Drujkivka and Dobropilla.
@kriegsforscherD
reports 1500 to 2000 FPV drones on Drujkivka and 1 200 in Dobropilla every day. x.com/kriegsforscher This can be corroborated by the high number of videos and destroyed vehicles on key supply roads.
@kriegsforscherD
reports 1500 to 2000 FPV drones on Drujkivka and 1 200 in Dobropilla every day. x.com/kriegsforscher This can be corroborated by the high number of videos and destroyed vehicles on key supply roads.
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FORTIFICATIONS :
If fortifications significantly slow down and help eliminate Russian soldiers on a daily basis, they are also a challenge, especially around the so called "doors".
White dots on this map are the "doors" (roads) Ukraine let into its main defensive line for its own logistics. Those are heavily targeted by Russia, but also the place where they try to infiltrate.
If fortifications significantly slow down and help eliminate Russian soldiers on a daily basis, they are also a challenge, especially around the so called "doors".
White dots on this map are the "doors" (roads) Ukraine let into its main defensive line for its own logistics. Those are heavily targeted by Russia, but also the place where they try to infiltrate.
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SITUATION IN DOBROPILLA :
In the Dobropilla direction, Russia finally consolidated the destroyed town of Rodysnke, while heavy fightings are still happening in Bilytske.
To supply Dobropilla, Ukraine is using 5 roads (so 5 different doors). Russian army continues to send infiltrators deep behind the lines, with some of them reaching Dobropilla or Vodyanske. Most of the time, their value is very small, but sometimes, some special forces are doing these infiltrations to set ambushes and occupy key positions/target drone teams, which is very problematic.
Closer to Pokrovsk, infiltrations and fighting continue around Shevchenko.
In the Drujkivka, direction, the situation is similar to what I wrote a week ago.
In the Dobropilla direction, Russia finally consolidated the destroyed town of Rodysnke, while heavy fightings are still happening in Bilytske.
To supply Dobropilla, Ukraine is using 5 roads (so 5 different doors). Russian army continues to send infiltrators deep behind the lines, with some of them reaching Dobropilla or Vodyanske. Most of the time, their value is very small, but sometimes, some special forces are doing these infiltrations to set ambushes and occupy key positions/target drone teams, which is very problematic.
Closer to Pokrovsk, infiltrations and fighting continue around Shevchenko.
In the Drujkivka, direction, the situation is similar to what I wrote a week ago.
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SITUATION IN KOSTIANTYNIVKA : The battle for Kostiantynivka is still ongoing, despite many claims. I believe Russia control around 50% of the city (mainly southern part), which means they have more soldiers than Ukraine, they can enter the city and accumulate. Most of this "50% under Russian control" has not been cleared, there are still Ukrainian positions in the south, which continue sporadic fighting. It's worth noting there are not too much firefights, mainly air and drone strikes, soldiers remain in shelter and rarely go out. Another 10 to 15% of the city is still under Ukrainian control (north-eastern part of the city), where we can find some Russian infiltrators. On the other side of the river, many Ukrainian soldiers are still present according to recent videos, but this is a grey zone. This video from recent days shows Russian artillery shelling in the center of the city : x.com/moklasen/statu and this is not an isolated event (x.com/AudaxonX/statu / x.com/Mocca2X/status / x.com/giK1893/status)
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Infiltrations continue to reach Oleksievo-Drujkivka and the first flags have been sighted in Mykolaipillia west of Kostiantynivka.
I have no clear information regarding Chasiv Yar, except the area is still a big grey zone, with Ukrainian soldiers still present close to the city. Kostinaytnivka is expected to be definitively abandonned in autumn, a year after the battle for the city started. Ukraine will need to heavily resist in Oleksievo-Drujkivka and Raiske to delay the battle for Drujkivka.
I have no clear information regarding Chasiv Yar, except the area is still a big grey zone, with Ukrainian soldiers still present close to the city. Kostinaytnivka is expected to be definitively abandonned in autumn, a year after the battle for the city started. Ukraine will need to heavily resist in Oleksievo-Drujkivka and Raiske to delay the battle for Drujkivka.
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SITUATION IN SLOVIANSK : This area has been the most successful for Russia in 2026. The battle for Mykolaivka will probably soon start, since the first infiltrations have been sighted near the city. At the same time, cross canal infiltrations are getting closer to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, Russia will sooner or later control the high ground above both cities. Kramatorsk is mainly on the eastern side of a river, it is more vulnerable to infiltrations, while Sloviansk is on the western side, with much more natural defenses against those infiltrations. Yesterday, two good informations came about Russian infiltrations into Mykolaivka (x.com/Playfra0/statu / x.com/RALee85/status), both of which showing the "Dovhyi forest" used for infiltration. A month ago already, I reported on my map update the use of this forest for accumulation and infiltration (x.com/clement_molin/), months before, heavy airstrikes happened in this exact forest.
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About supply roads, my previous assessment from 2 weeks ago is still working to understand how things work.
Regarding the north flank, situation is significantly improving, details will follow hopefully sooner or later.
https://x.com/clement_molin/status/2086841056365085129?s=20
Regarding the north flank, situation is significantly improving, details will follow hopefully sooner or later.
https://x.com/clement_molin/status/2086841056365085129?s=20
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As it was the case in 2024 and 2025, August is going to be one of the best month for Russian forces this month, with a faster progression in the Donbas.
In fact, as usual, Russia absolutely needs too reach urban areas before winter in order to fight for those during winter, since it is very deadly to move in open terrain during this season.
For all these offensive operations, Russian losses remain very high and the progress is costly.
In fact, as usual, Russia absolutely needs too reach urban areas before winter in order to fight for those during winter, since it is very deadly to move in open terrain during this season.
For all these offensive operations, Russian losses remain very high and the progress is costly.
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Thank you for following this latest update regarding the Donbas battle.
I will continue to update you on what is happening with regular and sourced analysis and will continue to talk about everything, including mid/long range strikes. And thank you for following me here, on Telegram !
I will continue to update you on what is happening with regular and sourced analysis and will continue to talk about everything, including mid/long range strikes. And thank you for following me here, on Telegram !
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Both Ukraine 🇺🇦 and Russia 🇷🇺 continue to expand their strike campaign against railway infrastructure
In August alone, Russia already launched 36 strikes on different trains, including multiple strikes with Geran-4 jet drones against civilian trains. Russia is particularly targeting Ukrainian locomotives, they hit a lot of civilian locomotives in July on the Dnipro-Zaporizhzhia line, which forced Ukraine to stop the transit of civilian trains on this direction.
Right now, Russia is trying to disrupt trains in Odesa, with 6 strikes this month on civilian trains and a few more on railway infrastructure in the region. Other civilian trains have been hit elsewhere, with strikes also targeting military trains in Dnipro and Kharkiv region. One of the recent strikes on Kyiv targeted a locomotive depot in the eastern part of the city.
Ukraine, on the other hand is concentrating its strikes against military trains (there are no civilian trains in the occupied territories right now)
In August alone, Russia already launched 36 strikes on different trains, including multiple strikes with Geran-4 jet drones against civilian trains. Russia is particularly targeting Ukrainian locomotives, they hit a lot of civilian locomotives in July on the Dnipro-Zaporizhzhia line, which forced Ukraine to stop the transit of civilian trains on this direction.
Right now, Russia is trying to disrupt trains in Odesa, with 6 strikes this month on civilian trains and a few more on railway infrastructure in the region. Other civilian trains have been hit elsewhere, with strikes also targeting military trains in Dnipro and Kharkiv region. One of the recent strikes on Kyiv targeted a locomotive depot in the eastern part of the city.
Ukraine, on the other hand is concentrating its strikes against military trains (there are no civilian trains in the occupied territories right now)
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...especially on fuel trains and railway cars. I geolocated some (but not all) strikes from the latest 1st corps video which shows many strikes on fuel cars. Right now, there is no Russian train at all in southern occupied Ukraine after the destruction of multiple bridges. The railway connexion out of Mariupol, Melitopol or Crimea are all cut.
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For the first time, Ukraine 🇺🇦 is expanding mid-range strikes (with video feed) deep into Russian 🇷🇺 territory
Dozens of strikes hit air-defense systems, radars and aircrafts in southern Russia. Strikes in 2026 against air-defense and radars damaged or destroyed more than 250 assets, including modern air-defense systems, jammers, and radars. Most of the fixed radars in Crimea have been hit, together with tens of air-defense systems in southern and eastern occupied Ukraine.
With Starlink connexion, Ukrainian FP-2 drones (the main ones being used for these strikes) can reach anywhere in occupied Ukraine, but also in the black sea and in coastal areas of Russia. However, this is the first time we see video feed of strikes against airbases and air-defense systems in Russia, where Starlink cannot be used.
Dozens of strikes hit air-defense systems, radars and aircrafts in southern Russia. Strikes in 2026 against air-defense and radars damaged or destroyed more than 250 assets, including modern air-defense systems, jammers, and radars. Most of the fixed radars in Crimea have been hit, together with tens of air-defense systems in southern and eastern occupied Ukraine.
With Starlink connexion, Ukrainian FP-2 drones (the main ones being used for these strikes) can reach anywhere in occupied Ukraine, but also in the black sea and in coastal areas of Russia. However, this is the first time we see video feed of strikes against airbases and air-defense systems in Russia, where Starlink cannot be used.
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There are few possibilities that could allow these strikes, with the use of a MESH system with repeater drones to keep connectivity or maybe something new. With precise strikes now targeting Voronezh, Rostov oblast and Krasnodar Kraï, Russia is now facing new difficulties. The destruction of multiple radars which guard the borders between occupied Ukraine (where Starlink can be used) and southern Russia can open new gaps for long range strikes targeting energy infrastructure and industry in southern Russia. For Ukraine, this may open the way to the targeting of Iskander and S-400 missile launchers close to the border in Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod oblast which are used to target Kyiv (Kyiv is barely within range).
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Video showing a Russian 🇷🇺 fiber-optic FPV drone hitting one of the 4 🇺🇦 IFVs returning from this attack today
What this shows :
🔹It seems that mainly fiber-optic drones are being used (it was the same during May 22nd assault), which means there is an important Ukrainian jamming
🔹On the video, at least 3 vehicles are heading back after reaching the front, getting behind and dropping infantry, which means the operation was successful
🔹Armoured vehicles are not obsolete, they need to be used in an integrated battlefield, with drones, infantry and artillery. Hitting them is not enough to damaging or destroying them
This is yet another example that maneuver warfare is not dead, both armies are trying to find the ways to it again after it was +/- put aside in the first months of 2025. We saw Russia using Arena-M active defense for its tanks, that were successful to some extent and now we have another example with Ukraine.
What this shows :
🔹It seems that mainly fiber-optic drones are being used (it was the same during May 22nd assault), which means there is an important Ukrainian jamming
🔹On the video, at least 3 vehicles are heading back after reaching the front, getting behind and dropping infantry, which means the operation was successful
🔹Armoured vehicles are not obsolete, they need to be used in an integrated battlefield, with drones, infantry and artillery. Hitting them is not enough to damaging or destroying them
This is yet another example that maneuver warfare is not dead, both armies are trying to find the ways to it again after it was +/- put aside in the first months of 2025. We saw Russia using Arena-M active defense for its tanks, that were successful to some extent and now we have another example with Ukraine.
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