The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Syrskyi (on the right) together with the commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov,” Denys “Redis” Prokopenko, in Donetsk region. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine / Facebook
As reported by Facebook page of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi
The Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out an operation that allowed some units of the Russian army, which were attempting to advance toward Dobropillya in Donetsk region, to become encircled. Such actions were made possible thanks to coordinated work and a clearly planned operation on the front’s flanks.
After another trip to Donetsk, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi disclosed an assessment of the events: since the start of fighting in this direction, the enemy has suffered significant losses – about 1,800 infantrymen destroyed or taken out of action.
According to him, it was possible to bring part of the occupiers under control thanks to a meticulously planned operation. Since the start of the counteroffensive, the defense forces have liberated approximately 175 km² of territory, and roughly another 195 km² have been cleared of the enemy’s sabotage groups.
“Thanks to clearly planned and bold actions of our troops, some of the enemy’s units found themselves encircled. During the counteroffensive operation, the area of liberated territory to date stands at about 175 square kilometers. In addition, nearly another 195 square kilometers have been cleared of sabotage groups.”
Current Situation and Operational Implications
The Commander-in-Chief provided data on enemy losses: more than 3,185 Russian troops, of which 1,769 were destroyed, and also 969 units of weapons and military equipment destroyed or put out of action.
Within the tactical framework, emphasis was placed on increased long-range firepower, neutralizing sabotage groups in designated areas, and deepening interaction between units taking into account worsening weather conditions.
According to Syrskyi, the Russian army acted mainly by the forces of the 51st Army and frontline battalions, advancing in separate groups to depths of 12 to 20 kilometers. By August 21, Ukrainian forces had cleared six settlements on the Pokrovsk direction.
As of September 8, the defense forces liberated 25.5 km² near Dobropillya, while the occupiers held 13.5 km². By September 22, Ukrainian troops reached a total liberated area of 164.5 km², and in total about 180.8 km² of the enemy sabotage groups were destroyed; control was restored over seven settlements, nine of them cleared of sabotage groups.
On September 26, Syrskyi noted that the Ukrainian command disrupted Russia’s plans in this direction and prevented a breakthrough that the Russian Federation planned from the Novopavlivske sector. For the counteroffensive near Dobropillya, new brigades were involved, and Russian troops found themselves trapped in this sector. The general also concluded that Russia’s spring-summer offensive campaign had failed.
Additional information on the situation in Donbas is provided in official Armed Forces of Ukraine summaries and operational updates.
You may be interested in these materials:
- On 28 September, Ukrainian forces repelled 53 Russian assaults with enemy losses of 1080 troops and significant equipment destroyed amid intense frontline clashes.
- Tense situation in Donetsk and Luhansk as Ukrainian forces hold key positions and counter enemy advances near Dobropillia, Kostyantynivka, and Pokrovsk.
- Russian airstrike hits Kostyantynivka, Donetsk, causing casualties and significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
