Dobropillia offensive
| Dobropillia offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the eastern front of the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |||||||
.webp) Fire damage to a building in Dobropillia caused by Russian shelling in the months leading up to the offensive | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Russia |
 Ukraine | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
100,000[1]–110,000[3] (on the Pokrovsk front) | unknown | ||||||
The Dobropillia offensive is an ongoing military operation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Armed Forces with the primary goal of capturing the strategic city of Dobropillia in western Donetsk Oblast.
The offensive separated itself from the Pokrovsk offensive to the south on 11 August 2025 after a major Russian ground assault was launched northeast of Rodynske. The first day saw Russian forces capture a 15 km (9.3 mi) strip of land around 6 km (3.7 mi) wide including three villages, which additionally severed the highway connecting Dobropillia to the city of Kramatorsk. Russian forces' tactics including small units of Russian forces penetrating the frontline before larger assaults, Russian numerical advantages, and Ukrainian infantry shortages at this part of the frontline have been credited with making the Russian offensive successful. Diplomatically, RBC-Ukraine stated the offensive may have been launched to place Russia at a better position in peace negotiations at the upcoming 2025 Russia–United States Summit.[4]
Offensive
[edit]Starting on 11 August, the Russian Armed Forces launched a major ground assault from their salient north of Pokrovsk in the direction of Dobropillia.[5] The attack initially consisted of small units of soldiers penetrating the Ukrainian defenses, a tactic Russia has used before during their offensive around Pokrovsk.[6] At first it was unclear whether these groups were able to consolidate their positions. Russian units were reportedly operating in Kucheriv Yar, Vesele and in the vicinity of Zolotyi Kolodiaz.[7][8][9] Russian assault squads additionally advanced close to the Dobropillia – Kramatorsk highway.[8][5] Despite these reports, the Strategic Group Dnipro stated that these infiltrations were "not taking control of the territory"[7][10]. The OSINT map DeepStateMap.Live updated their map to show a 15 km (9.3 mi) strip of land around 6 km (3.7 mi) wide had been taken since earlier advances north of Pokrovsk on 7 August.[11] The Ukrainian military denied reports of a breakthrough to the north of Pokrovsk and into the direction of Dobropillia.[12][13]
The next day, it was confirmed that Russian forces were able to breach the main Ukrainian defense line in the area with an advance up to 10 km (six miles) towards Dobropillia.[14][15] During the advance Russian troops reportedly seized at least nine settlements.[16] A local Ukrainian commander told CNN that small Russian units infiltrate the Ukrainian defense line looking for weak spots. He also added that some of Ukraine’s defense positions consist of two-man positions, which solely rely on resupply by drones.[17] Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that additional assets and personnel had been sent to the area to combat the offensive,[3] including elements of the 1st Azov Corps in the direction of the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway, reliving the overstretched Pokrovsk Tactical Group on this area of the frontline.[2]
Analysis
[edit]With this development of events, if it does not change, we may encounter a situation where Dobropillia falls faster than Pokrovsk.
The straight-line offensive was reported by Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Andriy Tkachuk as likely an attempt to split Ukrainian forces at this part of the frontline in half, further reporting the situation as "very difficult".[18] The Institute for the Study of War reported while there were tactical gains, an "operational-level breakthrough" had yet to occur.[8] Conversely, RBC-Ukraine reported the assault had worsened for Ukrainian forces due officers on this area of the front reporting the assault was "under control" or otherwise "not grasp[ing] the full scale of the problem".[7] DeepState reported the "situation remains chaotic" with "Russian forces quickly establish[ing] positions [to] accumulate troops for further advances".[11] Left unchecked, DeepState further reported the assault placed Dobropillia in "immediate danger", places the city of Pokrovsk in threat of encirclement, and threatens Kostiantynivka from a new direction.[11] Despite both DeepStateMap.Live and Ukrainian National News reporting that Russian forces were suffering heavy casualties in their advance,[10] Russian numerical advantages and Ukrainian infantry shortages at this part of the frontline allows the assault to still remain successful, and further makes it unlikely for Ukrainians to cut off and encircle the advancing Russian units.[11]
We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations
Diplomatically; Time Magazine,[19] RBC-Ukraine,[5] and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated the timing of the major assault was likely arranged to precede the upcoming 2025 Russia–United States Summit between Russian President Putin and US President Trump on 15 August to place Russia at a better position in peace negotiations.[20]
Territorial control
[edit]| Name | Pop. | Held by | Disputed | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilytske | 7,764 | Ukraine | Yes | 11 Aug 2025 |
| Dobropillia | 28,170 | Ukraine | 11 Aug 2025 | |
| Dorozhnie | 63 | Russia | Yes | 11 Aug 2025 |
| Kucheriv Yar | 145 | Russia | Yes | 11 Aug 2025 |
| Nove Shakhove | 191 | Ukraine | Yes | 11 Aug 2025 |
| Vesele | 227 | Russia | Yes | 11 Aug 2025 |
| Vilne | 71 | Ukraine | Yes | 11 Aug 2025 |
| Zolotyi Kolodiaz | 910 | Russia | Yes | 11 Aug 2025 |
See also
[edit]- List of military engagements during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Battle of Chasiv Yar
- Novopavlivka offensive
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mukhina, Olena (9 August 2025). "At Dobropillia's edge, Ukrainian conscripts from Donetsk streets join 100,000 Russian troops in fight against their own country". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Mazurenko, Alona; Kyrylenko, Olha (12 August 2025). "Azov fighters take up defence line on Pokrovsk front". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b Valentyna, Romanenko (12 August 2025). "Ukraine's General Staff reports on measures taken to stop Russian advance on Dobropillia and Pokrovsk fronts". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Smith, Alexander; Mayer, Daryna (12 August 2025). "Possible Russian front-line breakthrough risks boosting Putin ahead of Trump summit". NBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d Hodunova, Kateryna (11 August 2025). "Russian forces pierce Ukrainian defense in Donetsk Oblast, bypassing fortifications, monitoring group says". Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Ivantsiv, Anastasia; Ibragimov, Taras (12 August 2025). "Клешня на Добропілля. Як росіяни здійснили прорив на Покровському напрямку" [The Claw on Dobropillya. How the Russians made a breakthrough in the Pokrovskoye direction]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Velhan, Oleh (12 August 2025). "DeepState reports Russian breakthrough near Dobropillia, Ukrainian military clarifies actual situation". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Zoria, Yuri. "ISW: Russia's Dobropillia push isn't an operational-level breakthrough — yet". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Gibson, Olivia; Harward, Christina; Olmsted, Jennie; Mappes, Grace; Young, Justin; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George; Trotter, Nate (11 August 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 11, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b "The most intense battles continue in the Pokrovsk and Dobropillia directions: the situation on the Eastern Front". Ukrainian National News. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d Zoria, Yuri (11 August 2025). "DeepState: Russians breach near Pokrovsk, cut highway toward Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Zoria, Yuri (12 August 2025). "Dnipro command flatly denies DeepState report of Russian control near Donetsk's Dobropillia". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Shumilin, Oleksandr (12 August 2025). "Ukrainian military deny Russian breakthrough near Pokrovsk and Dobropillia fronts". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Andrew Osborn (12 August 2025). "Russia tries to make sudden advance in Ukraine before Trump-Putin summit". Reuters. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Sasha Vakulina (12 August 2025). "Russian forces breach Ukrainian defences in eastern Donetsk". EuroNews. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Russian Forces Breach Ukrainian Defenses in Drive Toward Pokrovsk". The Moscow Times. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Tarasova-Markina, Daria; Edwards, Christian; Paton Walsh, Nick; Butenko, Victoria (12 August 2025). "Russian troops pierce Ukraine's patchy defenses in Donetsk, days before Trump-Putin summit". CNN. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Russian Federation launches full-scale offensive in Dobropillia direction – AFU officer". Ukrainian National News. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ a b Burga, Solcyré. "Russia Makes Sudden Battlefield Advance in Ukraine Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit". Time Magazine. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Patoka, Maria; Havrylyuk, Khrystyna (12 August 2025). "Зеленський — про прорив біля Добропілля: Хочуть сформувати інформаційний фон перед зустріччю Трампа і Путіна" [Zelenskyy on the breakthrough near Dobropillya: They want to form an informational background before the meeting between Trump and Putin]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
