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.

I’ve been thinking… why do people say they support Ukraine when their actions show the opposite. Think about it for a second.

If you truly care about Ukraine, then why do you support useless operations like Kursk that only kill more people for no important gain?

Why do you refuse to comment on and criticize the countless blunders and horrible decisions made by the Ukrainian government and command?

Why do you push away others who support the same country, and confine yourself to your own little bias-affirming information echo chamber, therefore degrading the image of the pro-Ukrainian community?

Why do you try to convince yourself of certain things and not question the main narrative?

Why? Because most “pro Ukrainians” don’t actually care about Ukraine. They either just hate Russia, or are not happy with themselves and their lives, and want a community to call home. A community of people with similar beliefs and viewpoints on one specific subject - that being Ukraine, which many probably didn’t even know anything about pre-2022. They want to belong, but are instead making it worse for themselves and others.

Because if you truly cared about Ukraine, then you would be advocating for peace negotiations and the end to a war that cannot be won. Sure, it would mean that you lose your community, your online “home”, but it would hopefully put a stop the death, destruction and suffering.

Sorry for the rant, I just needed to say this.

While everyone focuses on Ukraine and The Middle East, the war in Myanmar goes criminally underreported.

Government airstrikes are being carried out every day on targets in rebel-controlled territory, both military and civilian.

Ukraine appears to have largely stabilised the Russian bridgehead on the western bank of the Oskil River, after most likely sending in reserves. However, this came at the cost of another bridgehead forming further north near the international border, where Russia captured the village of Topoli.

The issue for Ukraine is that whenever they plug a gap in their defence, another gap opens up - like a game of whackamole. This is why we’re don’t see Russia advance on one front for long periods of time, and instead we see a series of smaller pushes on different fronts. This is part of the war of attrition, which unfortunately many will label as a victory for Ukraine, when in reality it is the opposite, and represents a significant weakness for them.

It’s almost important to note that the Russian Oskil bridgehead is well beyond the point of being eliminated. Counterattacks are possible, but it is its own front now.

Considering recent developments in Sudan and previous statements made by U.S. officials, it’s possible that the U.S. has pressured the UAE to halt all military support to the RSF.

Considering recent developments in Sudan and previous statements made by U.S. officials, it’s possible that the U.S. has successfully pressured the UAE into halting all military support and aid to the RSF.

Ukrainian forces are surrounded in a couple of positions on the edge of the "white mountain", hiding under concrete slabs and in pipes with dugouts and rifle positions.

According to reports, 2 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed after Russian forces assaulted their positions (likely unsuccessfully), 6-7 are still holding out, but are cut off from supplies.

As already mentioned, the General Staff of the AFU is switching to a Corps system of organizing troops. Zelensky has already appointed commanders who will lead 18 new corps.

There is talk that the AFU will be organized into 18-20 corps.

The intention is to increase the combat capability, improve the responsibility of commanders for their personnel and assigned tasks.

According to rumors, the new corps will be deployed, or rather reorganized, on the basis of existing brigades:

Ukr Army
⏺️3rd Separate Assault Brigade "Azov"
⏺️5th Separate Assault Brigade
⏺️10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss"
⏺️58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky


Airborne Forces
⏺️82nd separate airborne assault brigade

National Guard
⏺️12th operational purpose brigade of the NGU "Azov"
⏺️13th operational purpose brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Charter"


The existing corps will remain, such as the 30th Marine Corps, the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps (Airborne), 9-12 Corps. There are also rumors about the deployment of the 92nd separate assault brigade, but only at the rumor level.

What is the essence? And the essence is simple. The AFU do not have enough experienced commanders to manage all the brigades.

The brigades of the 150th series simply run away when they enter into serious battles.

And the 140th series brigades have already been largely canibalised into battalions in other brigades.

By forming a corps from several brigades, it is possible to provide it with competent command with combat experience, and simplify logistics. No regrouping or increase in the number of the AFU should be expected.


DivGen

Map updates will be released later than usual today, I’m out with friends right now, so don’t expect any reports (unless missiles are fired) for a few hours. Apologies!