In western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian forces have been making slow progress, and are clearing the village of Pyatykhatky.

Pyatykhatky is one of the last villages that Ukraine captured during their 2023 counteroffensive which they still at least partially hold.

After a Russian armoured column landed troops in the eastern houses of the village, the zone of control was expanded, as Russian soldiers slowly cleared the ruins of houses towards the village centre, where they consolidated their positions. They then went on to attack further west and have almost completely captured the village.

The main Ukrainian positions are in the small forest west of Pyatykhatky. Due to the possibility of Ukrainian forces counterattacking from this forest, Russian forces have created organised defensive positions in the settlement to repel them.

Additionally, the frontline was corrected east of the village of Zherebyanky, with Russian forces confirmed to be in full control of a treeline there.

+ ~1.35km² in favour of Russia.

Increased Ukrainian aviation activity has been noted.

Su-24s, which can carry Storm Shadow cruise missiles, are flying south from Myrhorod air base towards the southeastern regions of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, other aircraft (possibly F-16s) are active in the Kursk direction, and are flying over Sumy Oblast. They may launch JDAMs in the near future.

IDF Spokesperson:
The Air Force is now attacking vigorously in southern Syria as part of the new policy we have defined of liberating southern Syria - and the message is clear: We will not allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon.

In the northern part of the Kursk salient, Russian forces advanced and captured the village of Pogrebki.

Russian forces from the 34th brigade advanced south from their newly established positions in the northern part of the settlement, and began clearing Ukrainian positions in the central part of the village. Fierce fighting took place for the school building and church, which were eventually captured by these soldiers. They then pushed further south and began clearing remnants of the Ukrainian garrison who were still stationed in the basements of the southern houses.

Additionally, Russian forces levelled out the frontline to the west, capturing two forested areas which were previously in the grey zone. Ukrainian forces also withdrew from their positions in the windbreaks on either side of the railway line east of Pogrebki, to less dangerous positions further south. For now, this section of the railway line is in the grey zone.

+ ~3.34km² in favour of Russia.

According to the financial times, Ukraine has agreed to a mineral deal with the U.S. after they dropped their toughest demands, including the demand of 500 billion being paid from minerals in return for military aid.

Zelensky will reportedly travel to Washington to sign the deal in the coming weeks.

Over the past few days, Russian forces have been advancing in the Kupyansk direction and captured a large area in the northern Ukrainian Oskil bridgehead.

Russian forces advanced southwest along the tactical heights, capturing a series of Ukrainian trench fortifications and strongholds. Once the rest of this section of the tactical heights were seized, Russian forces were able to attack through the low-lying ground, bypassing the village of Stepova Novosilka from the north.

Additionally, Russian forces advanced down a trench line next to a treeline in the north, reaching the southern end of it.

This restarting of offensive operations, and these quick successes will significantly weaken the Ukrainian defensive lines on their northern Oskil bridgehead and threaten the capture of Stepova Novosilka.

+ ~15.4km² in favour of Russia.

In Toretsk, Ukrainian forces counterattacked a couple of days ago, launching an attack deep into Russian lines in the city.

After recapturing the rest of the Toretska mines, Ukrainian armoured vehicles moved through the private residential area and reached the stadium, where infantry took up positions in one of the 5-story buildings. The rest of the assault group was destroyed.

+ ~0.09km² in favour of Ukraine.

Ukraine is not a strategic ally of the US but instead is a source for resources.

If the fact that they probably just handed over a large section of their rare earth materials to the US without receiving any (known) security guarantees or long-term commitments in return isn't a sign of desperation, then I don't know what is.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have been making progress in the Novopavlivka direction, taking up positions in the village of Uspenivka.

The back-and-forth fighting continues for Uspenivka. Ukraine brought in reserves and began counterattacking, recapturing the centre of the village (more than what is shown in blue on the map). Russian forces then counterattacked and recaptured a few positions in the houses in the southern part of the central street. Artillery is very active on both sides.

+ ~0.56km² in favour of Ukraine
+ ~0.07km² in favour of Russia.

Russian forces advanced in the Novopavlivka direction, and recaptured positions north of Preobrazhenka.

Russian forces advanced west through the southern part of the orchards and captured positions there. They also gained a foothold at the northern end of two perpendicular treelines, one of which leads directly to Preobrazhenka.

+ ~0.63km² in favour of Russia.

Russian forces advanced in Western Donetsk Oblast, and entered the eastern part of Kostyantynopil.

After failing to attack from their positions in the southern part of the village, Russian forces began attacking from the east, along the highway and gained a foothold in the eastern houses. This foothold quickly expanded, with Russian forces moving to the next street over, pushing the northeastern part of the village into the grey zone.

Ukrainian forces remain operationally encircled in the northwestern part of the settlement.

+ ~0.79km² in favour of Russia.

The Hamas-aligned Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades announced that they will be releasing the body of an Israeli hostage on Thursday.

The RSF has entered full-collapse mode in the central Kordofan regions of Sudan, with SAF (government) forces attacking in multiple directions.

The sieges of Dilling and El-Obied have been lifted, while work is underway to lift the siege of En-Nahud.

Meanwhile in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, SAF continued their offensive and have made important gains.

They also reactivated the Omdurman front.

Additionally, large advances were recorded in the Al-Jazriah state.

The war in Sudan is entering a critical stage for the RSF, something that they likely will be unable to dig their way out of. SAF morale is at an all-time high, and its looking more and more likely that they will advance into the RSF's heartland of Darfur.

Proper map updates will (finally) be released tomorrow when I have more time. I apologise for the break in updates from Sudan, I have just been more busy than usual.

Large Al-Shabaab advances in central Somalia, but mostly confined to the large grey-zone.

Map by https://x.com/AAGA_CAWLAN101

Regarding Toretsk.

Ukrainian forces are advancing and have expanded their breakthrough into the city to the nearby private residential area. The positions in the high-rise buildings are maintained, and another 5-story building has been cleared.

Russian forces are actively working on the Ukrainian positions with drones but have been unable to destroy the Ukrainian groupings who are hiding in buildings that are more intact than some of the buildings in other settlements. This provides them with more protection, making it more difficult for Russian drone operators to eliminate them. We may see artillery be utilised here in the near future, if it hasn't been already.

Despite me and most others declaring Toretsk captured at one point, Ukrainian forces actually maintained positions on the edge of the city, particularly in the Toretska mines. Now that they are conducting counterattacks, we can safely say that the battle was not and is not over.