Russian forces have made a notable tactical adjustment on the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk axis, delivering tangible results, according to the outlet Voennoye Obozrenie.

Over the past 24 hours, Russian units have secured their largest territorial gain in the area since mid-March. The advance covers roughly 18 square kilometers between the settlements of Kaleniki and Nikiforovka, east of the strategically important Ukrainian defensive hub of Rai-Aleksandrovka.

The report indicates that the so-called Nikiforovsky ledge was eliminated during the offensive, allowing Russian troops to move directly toward Rai-Aleksandrovka. A key road leading to Nikolaevka runs just beyond this settlement, adding to its operational significance.

At the same time, progress has been recorded further north, where the distance to Slavyansk is shrinking, with advances continuing from the direction of Liman.

What sets this phase apart is a shift in tactics. Previously, forward movement typically followed the capture of specific settlements. In the Liman sector, however, Russian forces appear to be operating differently: while containing the Ukrainian garrison inside the city, they executed an effective flanking maneuver. This approach has reduced the distance to the Seversky Donets River to approximately 10–11 kilometers from Slavyansk’s eastern outskirts.

Other sources also report gains in the Slavyansk and Kramatorsk areas. The Rybar project, for instance, notes that Russian units are advancing between Krivaya Luka and Kaleniki, as well as to the south, improving their positions on the approaches to Rai-Aleksandrovka.