A prominent Ukrainian military channel has reported that the assault forces of the former so-called "Syrskyi's Army" will likely be transferred to the command of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

He also stated that the fate of the 151st, 153rd, 154th, 155th, 156th, 157th, 159th, and 160th mechanised is unknown, but that their effectiveness is "highly debatable".

Forward Russian assault groups are now just 4.7 km from the eastern outskirts of both Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

In fact, Russian forces are now closer to both these cities than even Druzhkivka, where forward assault groups are approximately 5.1 km away.

However, its important to note that this is only for the eastern outskirts. The distance from the frontline to the centre of Kramatorsk is approximately 8.7 km, while the distance to Slovyansk city centre is about 13.4 km.

This time last year, Russian forces were around 17 km from the eastern outskirts of Kramatorsk and 20.6 km from Slovyansk. These final Donbas cities are slowly transforming into dead cities, becoming more and more unliveable for the civilian population. Soon they will fully complete the transformation from Zaporizhzhia-type civilian cities to Druzhkivka or Dobropillya-like military hubs.

Every day, they are increasingly being struck by KAB glide-bombs, artillery, MLRS, and drones of various types (including FPVs), resulting in large amounts of destruction to their infrastructure.

The Russian Ministry of Defence claims that over the last day, they struck a number of new targets in Odesa Oblast, Mykolaiv Oblast, and the western Black Sea.

These include fuel tanks at Odesa Port reportedly intended to supply the Ukrainian military, a naval tugboat at Mykolaiv Port reportedly converted to operate drone-boats, and a cargo vessel 8 km east of Zatoka (Odesa Oblast).

Today was the 22nd day of Russia's new massive strike campaign on Ukrainian port infrastructure.

Aftermath of an overnight Russian Geran-2 drone strike on a petrol station in the city of Pisochyn, Kharkiv Oblast.

Russian Geran-4 jet-drones struck two tugboats of the Ukrainian Navy at Mykolaiv Port.

An analysis of new Sentinel-2 satellite imagery reveals that Russia dropped 6 KAB-500 glide-bombs on Ukrainian positions in a forest southeast of Piddubne, in the Komar direction, indicating new Ukrainian advances west of the Mokri Yaly River.

The craters seen are approximately 15 metres in width. The strikes occurred somewhere between July 28 and July 31.

Russian forces have captured the town of Zaliznychne, Omelnyk direction, Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Polohy District).

Pre-war population: ~1,052
Total land area: ~2.61 km²

The fighting for Zaliznychne lasted approximately 7 months, 15 days.

Russian forces have re-established control over the village of Mali Shcherbaky, Stepnohirsk direction, Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Vasylivka District).

Pre-war population: ~355.
Total land area: ~1.46 km².

The 3rd battle for Mali Shcherbaky lasted approximately 1 months, 10 days.

Over the last few weeks, the situation for Ukraine on the frontline has rapidly deteriorated in an unprecedented manner not seen since early 2025.

In the northeastern corner Kharkiv Oblast, Russia has achieved two localised breakthroughs, threatening to encircle more than 360 km² of Ukrainian-controlled territory.

In the Dobropillya direction, one of the most formidable Ukrainian strongholds which has stood for over a year has been breached, with Russian forces now flooding Ukrainian positions in the urban agglomeration between Pokrovsk and Dobropillya.

In the Kramatorsk/Slovyansk direction, Ukraine has been unable to slow down Russian advances, with Russia now coming within 4.7 km of both Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, and coming close to fully capturing the crucial tactical ridgeline east of these two final Donbas cities.

In the Kostyantynivka direction, Russia has captured Chasiv Yar after 840 days of battles, and has almost completed the capture of Kostyantynivka. The salient west of Chasiv Yar is falling apart day by day as Ukraine withdraws.

In the Druzhkivka direction, Russia achieved a localised breakthrough of up to 6 km, capturing 3 villages and entering 3 others, coming within 5.1 km of Druzhkivka, and threatening the Ukrainian salient west of Kostyantynivka with encirclement.

In the Omelnyk direction, Russia has finally captured the Ukrainian stronghold town of Zaliznychne after over 7 months of battles, and are making new advances west of the Haichur River towards Vozdyvzhivka.

In the Stepnohirsk direction, Russia has halted the Ukrainian counterattacks and have begun retaking previously lost ground, advancing northeast of Kamyanske and north from Mali Shcherbaky.

In the Kupyansk direction, the crucial Ukrainian bridgehead east of the Oskil River continues to shrink day by day, with Russian forces expanding their zone of control in the area of Novosynove, Kivsharivka, Pishchane, Petropavlivka, and Kupyansk itself.

Ukraine is losing incredibly important defensive positions necessary for holding the frontline in the future, especially the areas south of Dobropillya which should not be falling this quickly. However, they are seemingly intent on concentrating their assault forces in counterattacks north of Lyman, west of Komar, and south of Novopavlivka, which have questionable (at best) strategic reasoning for the heavy cost being endured.

The new Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi has inherited a situation that is getting worse by the day, and will have to make some serious and difficult decisions in order to try stabilise it towards the end of Summer.

Russian FPV drones continue to freely fly around the streets of Kramatorsk, striking Ukrainian military vehicles.

Notably, a large number of civilian vehicles are still parked outside their homes, highlighting the high number of civilians still remaining in the city.

Why you should never trust AI about the Ukraine war.