Russian forces are accelerating their offensive around the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, according to military expert Yury Knutov. He reports that Russian troops are increasing pressure on Ukrainian positions across this strategically important sector of the front.

Knutov said the fiercest fighting is currently taking place near Dobropolye and Orekhov. He described Dobropolye as a contested gray zone, where Russian units reportedly control the city’s territory while Ukrainian forces repeatedly attempt to regain their positions. The expert stressed that it is still too early to declare the city fully captured.

Speaking to aif.ru, Knutov explained that Ukrainian troops had conducted several operations near Krasny Liman to prevent Russian forces from encircling the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka agglomeration. According to his assessment, Russian units are advancing from Dobropolye in the south while simultaneously moving around the agglomeration from the northwest, attempting to approach Ukrainian positions from the rear.

The analyst also linked the intensified offensive to the redeployment of Russian units following the clearing of the Volchansk pocket. He claimed these reinforcements were transferred toward Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, allowing Russian forces to halt Ukrainian advances and launch a counteroffensive. Knutov believes this maneuver caught the Ukrainian command by surprise.

The expert emphasized the strategic importance of the industrial agglomeration in the northwestern Donetsk People’s Republic, comprising Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka and Konstantinovka. He described the area as the Ukrainian military’s last major stronghold in Donbass and claimed that Konstantinovka had already come under Russian control.