Russia has announced the capture of three more Ukrainian settlements as its military campaign intensifies along the eastern front. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, forces have taken control of two villages in the Donetsk region—Stupochky and Otradne—as well as Loknya in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region.
This development marks another chapter in Russia’s continued push into Ukrainian territory following its initial failure to seize Kyiv in the early stages of the invasion. Since then, the Russian military has shifted its focus to the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk, aiming to secure strategic control over eastern Ukraine.
The village of Stupochky, located east of the embattled town of Kostiantynivka, has reportedly been under Russian pressure in recent days. The second village, Otradne, lies further west and also appears to be part of Russia’s ongoing attempts to stretch Ukrainian defenses along the 1,000-kilometer front line.
In the north, Loknya, situated in the Sumy region near the Russian border, has also reportedly been captured. Russia has increased military activities in this area, especially after its recent claims of clearing Ukrainian troops from its own border territories in the Kursk region.
However, Ukraine’s military has pushed back against these claims. The General Staff stated that Ukrainian troops have successfully repelled 18 Russian attacks in frontline areas, including in Otradne. They acknowledged ongoing attacks around Stupochky but did not confirm any loss of control. Ukraine has also not verified Russia’s claim about Loknya or other locations in Sumy.
Battlefield updates from both sides remain difficult to independently verify, with conflicting reports clouding the true situation on the ground.
Popular Ukrainian military blog DeepState, which tracks developments using open-source data, suggested that Russian forces may have, for the first time, established positions along a line of border villages, hinting at a possible strategy shift or escalation.
Additionally, the Russian Defence Ministry announced the capture of Radkivka, a village near Kupiansk, a northeastern city under consistent assault. Kupiansk Mayor Andrii Besedin, speaking on national television, revealed that the relentless attacks have devastated the area. Tragically, two city workers were killed on Friday, contributing to a mounting civilian toll.
“We’re losing so many of our people—our colleagues who are risking everything just to keep the city running,” said Besedin. “At this point, about 90% of Kupiansk is destroyed.”
The latest wave of Russian advances, combined with Ukraine’s fierce resistance, signals a brutal, ongoing contest for control as both sides dig in for what appears to be a long and grueling conflict.
