Russian sources are reporting that Ukrainian forces crossed the Sudzha river and captured the village of Plekhovo.

Update from Martynovka:

Geolocated footage shows that Russian forces have a presence in Martynovka after pushing the AFU from the settlement. Russian milblogger "Romanov" reported that Ukraine is once again attacking the village with battles ongoing at this moment.

⚡️ Urgent: A missile barrage consisting of at least 30 missiles hit Nahariya and Kabri

Explosions were also reported

Russian forces likely cleared the forested area on the tactical heights behind Tabaivka. This was probably done by advancing from the newly captured fortifications north of Pishchane, downhill into the gulley, getting behind Ukrainian positions near the Pishchane river.

They might have advanced over the Pishchane river and up the hills, but that would be more difficult. It would've been better for them to leverage their control over their new positions north of Pishchane village and branch off from there.

Update from Kursk Oblast - Sudzha direction:

Ukrainian forces were geolocated in the last Russian stronghold in Sudzha - the district on the eastern bank of the Sudzha river. Russian forces are actively shelling the Ukrainian positions with artillery. This does not mean that Sudzha has been captured, however. Russian forces likely still maintain a presence in the easternmost part of the town, where a garrison is stationed in the residential area.

It is likely that to make this sudden attack on eastern Sudzha possible, Ukrainian forces employed the tactic of advancing along the windbreaks of either side of the railway line - in this case the Lgov-Sudzha railway line - using the trees (which remain largely untouched from the war in this place) as cover from Russian artillery and FPV drones. The Russians have employed this tactic a lot recently and was the first step in the Ocheretyne localised breakthrough in the Pokrovsk direction.

Ukrainian forces then likely scattered themselves among the houses, clearing the limited Russian positions. Russian forces who are still waiting on more reinforcements to arrive likely hide in the basements of houses to prevent being killed by Ukrainian MLRS which are still actively being used on eastern Sudzha.

Ukrainian forces were also geolocated in new positions in Makhnovka (south of Sudzha), indicating the capture of the settlement. This shows that they have established yet another bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Sudzha river (the third one so far) and are likely attempting to expand it into the nearby settlements of Zamoste and Dmitriukov. If this bridgehead is expanded, it will eventually allow for an attack on the Russian garrison stationed in eastern Sudzha from the south, squeezing them out with simultaneous attacks from the north, although it is entirely possible that eastern Sudzha will fall as a whole before then.

As for the Russian reinforcements, the ones that have already arrived at the frontline are likely primarily stationed in and around the key settlement of Martynovka (I have explained the significance of this village in a separate post). This is because this is the area where the heaviest fighting is being reported, with constant Russian and Ukrainian counterattacks being carried out.

Reports are coming in that Ukrainian forces attacked again in this sector, but lost 1 tank, 7 BTR/BMPs and 13 other armored combat vehicles. These losses have not been confirmed, nor has it been established whether this attack was successful or not. All we know is that it is likely that Ukraine wants to regain control over Martynovka, likely to prevent morale issues. Additionally, it is a strategic position, as the village can be used as a staging ground for attacks on the neigbouring village of Mikhailovka to get the rear of Sudzha. The Ukrainians, who hold positions on the high ground behind the settlement likely see themselves in a situation of power as they exert fire control over the area.

Overall, it is likely - in my opinion - that Sudzha will fall in the coming days. The Russians will likely withdraw to more advantageous positions before launching a series of counterattacks to reverse the Ukrainian advances. It is also possible that the Russians will choose to hold eastern Sudzha while they wait for reinforcements to arrive, so they can use the residential area as a staging ground and forward troop concentration point for attacks on the rest of the town, but this option seems less likely to me.

These are probably some of the last Ukrainian advances that we will see in Kursk Oblast for now.

Ukrainian forces are reportedly attacking Russian defensive fortifications in the area of ​​the Kolotilovka checkpoint in Belgorod Oblast using 3-4 tanks with the support of small assault groups. Fighting is ongoing at this moment with Russian border guards.

In the neighboring village of Pokrovka (Sumy Oblast), Ukrainian reserves are reportedly concentrated, waiting to exploit a breakthrough.

Additionally, Ukrainian forces are reportedly attempting to push near Priles'e slightly further north, although it is unknown what forces were used for this.

Fighting is still ongoing. The Ukrainians are really trying to break through here.

Meanwhile, Russia reportedly dropped multiple FABs on the AFU. If I had to guess, the Ukrainian deployment points in Pokrovka were hit.

Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces counterattacked in Kursk Oblast and cleared the village of Kremyanoe.

Russian infantry were seen walking through the settlement down the main street with several dead Ukrainians lying around. The Ukrainians were likely pushed back to the forest near the road that leads to Korenevo.

This advance will significantly hamper any future Ukrainian efforts to enter and capture the key town of Korenevo.

Update: fighting has now been ongoing for over two hours. An intense shootout is underway with artillery duels being reported. A Russian soldier on the ground reported "enemy tanks are working in a carousel along the MAPP".

More to come.

Belgorod governor Gladkov announced the evacuation of civilians from border communities in the Krasnoyarsk region bordering Ukraine.

The reason is "Ukrainian activity on the border."

A Russian helicopter of an unknown type has reportedly arrived.

The attack was reportedly repelled by Russian border guards. The Ukrainian reserves in neighboring Pokrovka did not enter the battle.

Russian air defence is active in Tokmak, occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Tokmak has seen air defence activity more and more recently.

Sudzha has highly likely fallen to the Ukrainians.

The Ukrainian flanking maneuvers forced the Russians to abandon the town. It remains to be seen whether the AFU can create a buffer zone around it.

Reports are coming in that Russian forces have advanced into Toretsk itself for the first time and have taken up positions in the first two high-rise buildings.

The Ukrainian groupings in and around the Pivnichna mines are now at a serious risk of encirclement.

The second to last Ukrainian pre-war defensive fortifications fell today. The AFU is currently withdrawing from the salient near Niu-york. The frontline will soon settle around Nelipivka.

Strong explosions in Kherson.

Ukrainian forces reportedly attacked Russian strongholds in the direction of Gordeevka in Kursk Oblast in another cross-border raid.

More to come.