Russian forces advance near two more villages in Donetsk Oblast

The Russian forces advanced near Poltavka and in the area of Voskresenka.

DeepState analysts earlier reported enemy gains in Zelenyi Hai, near Piddubne, in the Andriivka-Klevtsove area, and at Popovyi Yar.

On July 26, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia operational-strategic group Viktor Trehubov said that Russian forces were concentrating their efforts near Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka.

"Whereas in winter the focus was more on the outskirts west and south of Pokrovsk, now the main mission of the Russians is to wedge themselves between Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka, posing a threat to the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration from the east and, if possible, the north as well," he explained.

He added that this is why the Pokrovsk direction remains the most intense area of combat.

According to Trehubov, Russian forces are also attempting to break into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, particularly along the Novopavlivka axis, but their progress there has likely stalled.

On July 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces have not made any significant breakthroughs on the frontline. He noted that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi had reported that Russian reconnaissance and sabotage groups had entered Pokrovsk five to seven times.