The three hostages have now been transferred to The Red Cross, who will in turn transfer them to the IDF.

Yet another Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber is redeploying from Olenya Air Base to Engels-2 Air Base, to be equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles.

Additionally, this morning, one Tu-95MS redeployed from Engels-2 to Olenya, presumably equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles.

In the western part of the Kursk Salient, Russian forces made significant progress in the fields north of the international border with Ukraine.

Russian forces advanced from their positions in the residential part of Darino, capturing the agricultural buildings on the outskirts, therefore establishing full control over the village. They then went on to attack down a treeline, and then another adjacent treeline, pushing Ukrainian forces almost to the international border.

Further southwest in Nikolaevo-Darino, Russian forces captured two treelines and a small, forested area, pushing Ukraine to the treelines further to the southeast.

The goal of this advance is to eliminate the westernmost part of the Kursk salient, allowing for the redeployment of certain detachments to Sverdlikovo and Lebedevka, in order to capture them both.

+ ~10.9km² in favour of Russia.

Correction of the frontline in favour of Ukraine:

At some point, in the northern part of the Kursk salient, Ukrainian forces recaptured positions southeast and east of the village of Pogrebki.

They were able to secure a large section of the railway line, taking up positions in the windbreaks on either side of the railway tracks. They also captured a series of forest plantations near Novaya Sorochina.

+ ~2.55km² in favour of Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces counterattacked in western Luhansk Oblast, taking up new positions west of Makiivka.

They advanced from positions in the low-lying ground, moving uphill, recapturing a series of treelines and forest plantations on the tactical heights. Russian forces were forced to retreat to the western approaches of Makiivka, while holding a defence in the nearby forest.

+ ~2.76km² in favour of Ukraine.

Correction of the frontline in favour of Ukraine:

At some point, Ukrainian forces counterattacked in the direction of the village of Klishchiivka, crossing the Siversky Donets Canal, and took up positions in the forests on its eastern bank.

Russian forces were pushed to the nearby forest strongholds, as well as nearby treelines, however they may still retain their small bridgehead on the western bank of the canal to the south, which could be used for attacks to the rear of the newly formed Ukrainian salient.

+ ~2.10km² in favour of Ukraine.

Russian forces continue to advance on the eastern flank of Pokrovsk, and are beginning to outflank the village of Yelyzavetivka.

They advanced from positions south of the overpass, capturing positions in 5 separate treelines. The goal here might be to drive a wedge between Malynivka and Yelyzavetivka, before attacking Malynivka from the south and east, and Yelyzavetivka from the south, east and north.

+ ~2.31km² in favour of Russia.

Russian and Ukrainian forces have both made progress in the Pokrovsk direction, with back and forth movement being recorded.

Ukrainian forces captured the western part of the village of Lysivka, and quickly moved south through the forests, across the Solonyi River, and into the village of Dachenske. They took up positions in the central and eastern houses of the village, before being pushed out by Russian counterattacks from the west.

Ukrainian forces maintain positions in the forest and houses to the north, however.

+ ~1.33km² in favour of Ukraine
+ ~0.73km² in favour of Russia.

Ukrainian forces continue to make progress on the western flank of Pokrovsk, taking up new positions in two main areas.

Near the village of Kotlyne, Ukrainian forces advanced down the windbreaks on either side of the railway trakcs, capturing a large section of the railway line. They also pushed the rest of an adjacent treeline out of the grey zone.

Ukrainian formations then entered Kotlyne, although it is unclear if they have established positions there or not. For now, most of the village has moved into the grey zone.

Meanwhile, in Pishchane, Ukrainian forces counterattacked, recapturing the Pishchane industrial zone, therefore eliminating the Russian presence in the village once again.

+ ~2.96km² in favour of Ukraine.

In western Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces made new advances, entering the village of Preobrazhenka.

They advanced south from positions in the treeline perpendicular to the orchards near Nadiivka, capturing the rest of that treeline. They then moved westwards, across the open fields and took up a couple of positions on the northern edge of Preobrazhenka.

+ ~1.97km² in favour of Russia.

Ukrainian forces have begun their withdrawal from the salient west of Kurakhove, resulting in new Russian progress, and the extension of the grey zone.

Russian forces advanced downhill to the west, capturing a treeline, before branching off onto two perpendicular treelines, capturing around half of them.

They are also conducting attacks north along a treeline further east, with the grey zone nearly reaching the highway. They also attacked from Dachne, entering the treelines west of the village.

+ ~3.61km² in favour of Russia.

Uganda’s chief of staff has given the Congolese Armed Forces (FADRC) 24 hours to surrender or withdraw from the eastern Ituri region of the DR Congo, stating that the capital of the region, Bunia, “will be in Uganda’s hands”.

There are now reports of an Ugandan military build-up along the border with DR Congo.

This comes as M23 rebels capture the North Kivu capital of Goma, and are on the brink of capturing the south Kivu capital of Bukavu. The Ituri region is north of the North Kivu province.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, late on Saturday in his first trip to The Middle East.

Last week, a State Department official said that Rubio will discuss Gaza, the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel during the trip, and will pursue Trump’s approach of trying to disrupt the status quo in the region.

I will never understand those who criticize people for using Russian (or even neutral) sources for their information on the war, but then proceed to view the clearly fabricated casualty counts and missile/drone interception reports made by the Ukrainian government as fact.

Explosions in Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky, Odesa Oblast. Two Russian Iskander-M ballistic missiles struck at or near the city.

I have to say, I’m really enjoying watching the remnants of NAFO attacking each other over all the different issues that they disagree on, eg. Trump, David D, Georgian Legion, aid scams, grifters, etc.

It seems that Nafo as an organisation is finally coming to an end.

Karma’s real guys.

The Kurakhove salient has now completely fallen apart. Russian forces have entered Ulaky, and it’s likely that there are Ukrainians trapped in an encirclement.

The withdrawal is messy and unorganized, with Russian equipment taking advantage of the confusion.

Russian forces continue to slowly advance in the western part of the Kursk salient, capturing the majority of the village of Sverdlikovo.

They advanced from their bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Loknya River, down the Korenevo - Sudzha highway, and branched off to the two adjacent streets. Russian forces took up positions in the houses there.

This was likely achieved with the help of detachments being moved from the fields to the west, where the Ukrainians were nearly pushed back to the international border, to Sverdlikovo, therefore reinforcing the local offensive.

Once Sverdlikovo falls, Russian forces will have a relatively solid bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Loknya River, and will begin to assault the treelines to the south and north of Lebedevka, laying the groundworks for an attack on the village.

+ ~0.60km² in favour of Russia.