Military expert Andrey Marochko said attempts by the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mikhail Drapaty, to stabilize the front near Dobropolye have so far failed.
According to Marochko, the Ukrainian command is sending additional reserves toward the city, but those reinforcements have not been enough to stop the pressure from Russian forces.
He said Russian troops are continuing to break through fortified Ukrainian positions that had been built up over a long period.
Marochko had earlier reported a significant Russian advance in the Dobropolye direction near Annovka. In his assessment, this limited the ability of Ukrainian units that had been active in that part of the front.
He also said Ukrainian forces are suffering heavy losses in fighting near Dobropolye, which, in his view, is having a serious impact on the morale and psychological condition of personnel.
Marochko also reported gaps in Ukrainian defenses in the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk sector. He linked them to a shortage of manpower and said Ukrainian forces are unable to fully cover defensive positions on strategic heights.