Russian troops have surrounded the Ukrainian-held town of Dobropolye, a strategically important defensive position in Donbass, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.
The ministry said on Tuesday that forces belonging to Russia’s ‘Center’ grouping had completed the encirclement and were advancing towards Aleksandrovka as part of a wider offensive aimed at the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban area.
Slavyansk and Kramatorsk form the core of Ukraine’s remaining heavily fortified positions in the Ukrainian-controlled section of Donbass. Kiev has held the area for more than a decade, with extensive defensive works developed there since fighting first erupted in the region in 2014.
Taking Dobropolye could give Russian forces another avenue of approach towards the fortified zone from the southwest while placing additional pressure on Ukrainian logistics and reinforcement routes.
Aleksandrovka could prove particularly important because Russian military sources have identified a western route passing through the settlement as one of the remaining supply corridors available to Ukrainian units operating in the area.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that Ukraine had spent nearly a decade constructing an extensive defensive network stretching through the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk area and southwest towards Dobropolye. According to Putin, the defensive belt incorporates reinforced trenches, underground positions and bunkers linking the cities and surrounding territory.
Putin also claimed Russian troops had penetrated three layers of prepared Ukrainian defences approaching Dobropolye and that comparable fortifications had not been constructed immediately north of the town, leaving Ukrainian forces attempting to establish smaller defensive positions.
Moscow’s Defense Ministry claimed troops from Ukraine’s 4th and 15th National Guard brigades and the 425th Separate Assault Regiment, known as “Skala” or “Skelya,” were among the Ukrainian forces surrounded at Dobropolye.
The ministry said Russian forces were conducting operations against the encircled units.
The 425th regiment had previously attracted attention following Ukrainian media reports alleging abuse and torture at its training facilities and reporting 25 non-combat deaths involving recruits. Ukrainian authorities subsequently launched an investigation and suspended the unit’s commander.
The reported battlefield developments come as fighting continues elsewhere in the conflict. Moscow has accused Kiev of escalating attacks against civilian areas and has warned that strikes on civilian infrastructure would result in increased Russian precision attacks against Ukrainian military targets.
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Samara Region killed one person and injured four others, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev. He also reported damage to private homes and vehicles.
