Russian forces have taken control of Svetloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Novaya Sech in Sumy Region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

Svetloye was secured by units of the Center group of forces. In the same sector, Russian troops struck formations from two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade, a jaeger brigade, two assault regiments, two marine brigades, a special forces brigade and four Ukrainian National Guard brigades.

The fighting covered areas near Novoandreyevka, Novonikolayevka, Kutuzovka, Novofedorovka, Novovodyanoye, Belozerskoye, Rubezhnoye and Dobropolye in the DPR, as well as Novopodgorodnoye in Dnepropetrovsk Region.

According to the Russian military, Ukrainian formations lost up to 340 servicemen in this sector. Six vehicles and a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar were also destroyed.

Novaya Sech in Sumy Region was taken by the North group of forces. Russian troops attacked positions held by a mechanized brigade, an airmobile brigade and three territorial defense brigades near Obody, Ivolzhanskoye, Sokhany, Osoyevka and Ugroedy.

Further strikes were carried out in Kharkov Region. Units from three mechanized brigades, an assault regiment and two territorial defense brigades were hit near Vasilyevka, Bugayevka, Shirokoye, Novoalexandrovka and Sosnovy Bor.

Ukrainian losses in the North group’s area of operations reached up to 200 servicemen. Russian forces also destroyed a tank, an armored personnel carrier, nine vehicles and a 155mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system.

War correspondent Alexander Kots outlined the military significance of the advances in Novaya Sech and Svetloye.

Novaya Sech, which had a population of about 370, lies in Sumy District along the N07 highway leading to Sumy. It borders Korchakovka, which the Russian Defense Ministry reported taking on April 30.

Kots said units of the North group are now deployed along the Malaya Korchakovka-Korchakovka-Novaya Sech-Ivolzhanskoye line. In his assessment, the bridgehead could later be expanded toward Kiyanitsa, Maryino and Pisarevka.

Ukrainian troops had actively used the area as a support base during their incursion into Kursk Region. Air defense crews protecting the advancing formations were stationed there in 2024. By the end of 2025, artillery positions and drone operator sites had also appeared in the sector.

Kots believes Russian fire systems could eventually be positioned there to strike Ukrainian forces in Sumy and around the regional capital.

Svetloye is located in the Dobropolye District of the former Donetsk Region. Before the fighting began, the settlement had a population of about 1,200. It stands on the Kulichka River, roughly 1.5 kilometers northeast of Shevchenko, which the Russian Defense Ministry reported taking on July 26. Svetloye is approximately five kilometers from Dobropolye.

Kots described Dobropolye as the last major Ukrainian stronghold in the western part of the DPR. To approach the city’s southern outskirts, Center group units would first have to take Chernigovka, Vodyanskoye and Matyashevo, he said.

Russian forces are also advancing toward Dobropolye from the east through the area of Rodinskoye. Kots assessed that after the city is brought under control, some Center group units could continue toward Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk and Slavyansk from the west. He also said Ukrainian forces had no major fortifications along that route.