According to the commander of a company in the «Rus» unit of the Volunteer Corps, operating within the Russian Armed Forces’ «South» grouping and known by the callsign «Missioner» Russian troops have moved close to key Ukrainian positions near Kramatorsk.

He said Russian units are continuing an active offensive on the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka axis. In his account, Russian forces have already reached forward Ukrainian strongpoints that open the way toward the Kramatorsk agglomeration. He described these positions as strategic and said they directly lead to the urban cluster around Kramatorsk.

Missioner also stated that Ukrainian forces are making heavy use of various drones on this sector of the front. Even so, he said, Volunteer Corps units continue to break into the opposing defensive line.

The Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration is seen as a strategically important objective for any further Russian advance. It remains one of the largest fortified areas held by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and one of their most important logistical hubs. The main rail and road supply routes for the Ukrainian grouping in Donbass run through these cities.

Control over this area could also open the way for further Russian advances toward the Zaporozhye region.