Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin says Russian units have reached the outskirts of Svyatogorsk and are already engaged in fighting there with Ukrainian forces. He noted that the situation around the town is being closely monitored and pointed out that combat is now taking place directly on its fringes.

Pushilin also linked the advance of Russian troops to a long-standing problem for the region — water supply. He argued that once Slavyansk is taken, the Seversky Donets-Donbass canal would finally be able to operate at full capacity, which, in his view, would provide the area with the necessary volumes of water.

According to reports from military Telegram channels, heavy fighting continues on the northern flank of the Liman axis. On the Aleksandrovka-Grekovka line, units of the Russian Armed Forces are said to have secured positions near the approaches to Korovy Yar and moved into offensive actions in the central part of Aleksandrovka.

Further to the southeast, Russian assault groups have pushed Ukrainian formations away from the approaches to Svyatogorsk, driving them from positions in the areas of Sosnovy, Yarovaya and Drobyshevo. Later, Russian troops reportedly broke into the territory of the Izumrudny Les camp, advancing from the side of the railway tracks near Sosnovy.