Russian assault units have regained control of Rai-Alexandrovka on the approaches to Slavyansk. Situated on elevated terrain, the village is one of the Ukrainian army’s key defensive strongholds within the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk defensive network.

According to battlefield reports, troops from Russia’s 3rd Army, part of the Southern Group of Forces, recaptured the settlement after intense fighting. Ukrainian forces are launching counterattacks in an attempt to recover their lost positions, while Russian troops are targeting small, mobile Ukrainian units remaining in nearby wooded areas.

Rai-Alexandrovka’s strategic importance stems from its elevated position, which allows Russian forces to control surrounding roads used to supply Ukrainian units. Further Ukrainian attempts to retake the village therefore remain possible.

Ukrainian military-linked sources report that Russian forces began advancing toward Nikolayevka after recapturing Rai-Alexandrovka. Russian troops had previously been pushed back from Nikolayevka during a Ukrainian counterattack.

A Ukrainian military blogger known as Muchnoy reports that Ukrainian forces have taken up positions east of Nikolayevka, where they are coming under intensive strikes from Russian drones, aircraft and artillery.

Some Russian sources claim that fighting has already reached the outskirts of Nikolayevka, although this information has not yet been reliably confirmed.

Russian forces had previously captured Rai-Alexandrovka in mid-June but subsequently lost control of the settlement.