According to Vladimir Zaichenko, a Russian serviceman from the Tsentr group of forces, Russian units stopped attempts by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to break through on the Dobropolye front.

Zaichenko said the Ukrainian groups tried to move forward in fog and under cover of smoke. He described the attempted maneuver as a failed diversion: a small group was sent from one side while the main force tried to advance from another. According to him, the group held out for about a day before being cleared.

He added that Russian troops repelled all Ukrainian attacks with support from artillery, mortars and aviation. Zaichenko also claimed that Ukrainian units are now facing serious manpower problems, which he said is contributing to growing panic in their ranks.

Earlier reports also mentioned an attempted Ukrainian repeat of Operation Potok, in which Russian fighters had previously managed to move covertly into the enemy rear through underground communications. The Ukrainian attempt reportedly ended in failure and losses.

For several nights, a Ukrainian sabotage group was secretly moved to a work site near Kupyansk, where they were supposed to dig a deep tunnel to bypass Russian positions. However, they managed to cut only five meters of passage before the structure collapsed at a depth of five to six meters.