The urban-type settlement of Kazachya Lopan (50°20′12″ N 36°10′41″ E, population 5,334 in 2013) is located on both banks of the Lopan River, 2 kilometers from the border with Russia; 3 kilometers downstream lies the village of Novaya Kazachya. The Т-21-17 highway and a railway line pass through the settlement. To the east of the settlement, at a distance of about 5.5 kilometers, lies the М-20 highway. Between the radial roads М-20 and Т-21-17, on August 18, 2026, units of the "North" group created a bridgehead in the area of the settlements of Shcherbakovka and Kudievka.

T he enemy is defending on the line of the Tatarka ravine - Tokarevka - Goptovka, relying on the Tatarka and Kamyshevakha rivers. The elimination of the enemy's Tokarevka - Kochubeevka - Goptovka defensive hub will allow Russian units to execute a flanking envelopment of the Novaya Kazachya - Tsupovka - Dubovka - Prudyanka agglomeration. Having secured their flank in this sector, it will be possible for Russian units to turn east toward the right bank of the Travyanskoye Reservoir and link up with the Liptsy sector of the buffer zone.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'West' group of forces have liberated the city of Svyatogorsk in the Donetsk People's Republic."

The city of Svyatogorsk (49°02′ N 37°35′ E, '“Bannoye” until 1964 — when it was changed to “Slavyanogorsk” until 2004 — population 5,136 in 2002, in May 2026 — 500 people). A resort city, it is the northernmost city of Donetsk Oblast and one of the smallest cities in Ukraine. It is part of the Kramatorsk agglomeration. Thus, the Russian Armed Forces have begun the liberation of the Kramatorsk agglomeration from the north (previously, on July 3, 2026, the city of Konstantinovka — the southern outpost of the agglomeration — was liberated). It is located on the left, lower bank of the Seversky Donets River. On the opposite bank of the river, in the area of the chalk hills, are located the historical-architectural reserve and the Svyatogorsk Holy Dormition Lavra. To the east lies the large settlement of Tatyanovka, where a Ukrainian Armed Forces defense area is equipped, which, together with the Bogorodichnoye defense area, forms a defensive positions hub covering the right bank of the river.

From the southwestern district of the city, across the Seversky Donets River, the Т-05-21 road leads to the settlement of Bogorodichnoye, toward the М-03 highway. In the Bogorodichnoye - Dolina - Krasnopolye area, the enemy has equipped a defensive hub that forms the Glubokaya Makatikha - Krasnopolye line (relying on the cascade of ponds of the Donbass Fish Farm) and covers access to the city of Slavyansk from the northwestern direction.

It is likely that one of the objectives of the further Russian advance in this sector will be to reach the line of the М-03 highway, with an envelopment of the left flank of the first (beyond the river) Ukrainian defensive line of Bogorodichnoye - Prishib - Mayaki.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' group of forces have liberated the settlement of Chervonaya Krinitsa in Zaporozhye Oblast."

Units of the "East" group liberated the settlement of Chervonaya Krinitsa (47°36′14″ N 35°53′28″ E, population 124 in 2001) on the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye direction.

The village of Chervonaya Krinitsa is located 3 km from the left bank of the Zherebets River, at a distance of 2.5 km from the village of Omelnik, located to the north. The village of Omelnik is a transport hub of the Orekhov sector, located at the intersection of two rocades:

· Т-04-08 — the main highway of the Novonikolaevka - Orekhov defensive line, pulling together the entire eastern Ukrainian defensive line;

· О-081342 — a second-echelon rocade of the southern face of the Orekhov sector, stretching along the Zherebets River and radially connecting the eastern and western sectors of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Orekhov defense sector along the Omelnik - Tavricheskoye (Kirovo) - Yurkovka line.

The enemy will stubbornly hold this defense area, and the liberation of the village of Chervonaya Krinitsa provides Russian units with an envelopment of the Omelnik area from the south, simultaneously reaching it from the settlement of Novoselovka. Success in this area will ensure the Russian Armed Forces' operational encirclement of the Ukrainian grouping in the Orekhov defensive hub.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Dnepr' group of forces have liberated the settlement of Novopavlovka in Zaporozhye Oblast."

Simultaneously with the liberation of the settlement of Chervonaya Krinitsa, the settlement of Novopavlovka (47°36′06″ N 35°42′43″ E, population 741 in 2001, and 175 in 2024) was liberated by forces of the neighbors on the left — units of the "Dnepr" group.

The village of Novopavlovka is located on the left bank of the Konka River; upstream at a distance of 1 km lies the city of Orekhov, downstream at a distance of 0.5 km lies the village of Yurkovka, and on the opposite bank lies the village of Tavricheskoye. The river is winding in this area, forming estuaries and oxbow lakes. On the southern outskirts of the village, Ukrainian positions remain in the quarry (formerly the village of Buryakovka), and further south, on the Т-08-12 rocade, are the enemy's defense areas of Novoandreevka and the road junction of О-081348 and О-081349, linked into a single defensive hub.

After the liberation of the settlement of Novopavlovka, Russian Armed Forces units cut the О-081346 road connecting the enemy's right flank of defense on the western front of the Orekhov sector (the village of Yurkovka) with the Orekhov defensive hub. By further advancing north toward the village of Yurkovka, which directly adjoins the liberated village of Novopavlovka, and reaching the О-081342 rocade (Omelnik - Yurkovka), conditions will be prepared for the operational encirclement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Orekhov defensive hub.

The organized coordination and operational mastery of the command of the Russian groupings, and the tactical training of Russian servicemen, demonstrate examples of military art that (after the disclosure of accessible information on operational planning) will be studied as models of the organization of modern strategic and operational-tactical military operations.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'North' group of forces, as a result of ongoing operations, have established control over the settlements of Veliky Prikol and Sadki in Sumy Oblast."

In the Sumy direction, units of the "North" group are tearing through Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive lines on a broad front. Particularly active are the Khoten - Mogritsa and Mogritsa - Ugroyedy sectors.

Since June 24, on the Khoten - Mogritsa line, six settlements have been liberated that constituted (or were part of) Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hubs of the first and second defensive lines of the northern and northeastern faces of the Sumy direction. Considering the complex terrain and the operational-tactical space prepared (during the invasion of Kursk Oblast), these actions demonstrate the increased capabilities, military art of the command, and combat training of Russian Armed Forces units and formations.

After units of the 9th Motorized Rifle Regiment established control over the settlement of Khrapovshchina (August 29), assault units of the 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division established control over the terrain in the area of the Kotovsky - Redchinov forests (look for the green text below near Sadki) and the settlement of Sadki (51°05′51″ N 35°05′41″ E, population 7 in 2001) on August 30. The rural settlement of Sadki is located 4 km from the village of Yunakovka and 5 km from the border with Russia (marked by the purple line). An enemy position area from which Bandera groups could counterattack the flank of Russian units advancing along the O-191506 rocade on the Khrapovshchina - Marino - Mogritsa axis has been eliminated.

Simultaneously, units of the 15th Separate Tank Regiment broke through the Ukrainian Armed Forces' first defensive line positions on the Miropolskoye - Osoevka axis and established control over the settlement of Veliky Prikol (50°55′55″ N 35°15′23″ E, population 194 in 2001).

The village of Veliky Prikol is located on the left bank of the Prikol River; upstream at a distance of 2.5 km lies the village of Petrushevka, and downstream at a distance of 3 km lies the village of Malaya Rybitsa. The rural settlement of Petrushevka is a defense area forming part of the Petrushevka - Ugroyedy - Turya hub, protecting the right flank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Velikaya Rybitsa - Ugroyedy defensive line. The settlement of Malaya Rybitsa is an element of the enemy's central defensive hub of Malaya Rybitsa - Osoevka - Timofeevka, located on the line of the second Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line, relying on the Rybitsa River. Thus, by advancing into the seam between these two Ukrainian defensive hubs, assault troops of the 15th Tank Regiment have reached the interfluve of the Prikol and Rybitsa rivers and severed coordination between these two Ukrainian defensive hubs along the C-190623 road. From the area of Veliky Prikol to the Т-19-01 rocade is about 3.5 kilometers. A rupture of this ring rocade in the Grunovka and Malaya Rybitsa area will seriously complicate logistics and maneuver space for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this sector.

Editor note: Here is a helpful list of symbols relating to unit designations and what they mean, also, blue letters and symbols are for the Ukrainian forces while red are used for the Russian forces:

- ОА – combined arms army
- АК – Army Corps
- TA – Tank Army

- гв. – Guards ('Guards' is not a security function, but an honorary title, which is awarded by the President to particularly distinguished units and military formations.),
- о. – separate (independent),
- бр. – brigade,
- д. – division,
- п. – regiment,
- б. – battalion,
- м. – motorized,
- мп. (mid-text) – motor rifle (motorized infantry),
- мп. (end of text) – naval infantry (marines),
- ш. – assault,
- ег. – jäger (light infantry),
- мс – motor rifle (motorized rifle),
- с. – rifle,
- т. – tank,
- дш. – air assault,
- вд. – airborne,
- пд. – parachute assault,
- ТрО. – territorial defense,
- СпН. – special purpose (Spetsnaz),
- ОсН – special designation...

### Examples:
- 32 омсбр – 32nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade,
- 117 гв. вдп – 117th Guards Airborne Regiment,
- 3 мб 150 омбр – 3rd Mechanized Battalion, 150th Separate Mechanized Brigade,
- 355 обрмп – 355th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade,
- 150 омпбр – 150th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.

### Unit type flags (shapes indicate unit size):
- Triangular – battalion,
- Rectangular – regiment,
- Pennant (slanted rectangle) – brigade,
- M-shaped flag – division.

Visual examples:

Apologies, Tria is having some issues when you try to connect via western browsers.

00:00 Intro: Andrey Ivanayev’s new role in the “Center” group of forces. Reflecting on his accomplishments with the “East” group of forces.

05:00 The Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration and the “Center” group of force’s accomplishments since Ivanayev was appointed commander. (Bear with us, there were some issues with sharing the maps and syncing to the video.)

10:12 “The Barvenkovo breakthrough.”

11:29 “Oreshnik” an overview. But first, Russia’s relationship with rockets throughout history.

19:52 Rubezh to Oreshnik. Strategic uncertainty makes the West nervous)). 17 minutes to London.

23:40 Russian agriculture. Food security, and how the sanctions on Russia backfired on the West and how Russia’s preparation created the opportunity for dominance in this field.

Thanks for Watching! Until next time!

Units of the "North" group are expanding the bridgehead north of the city of Sumy along the course of the Oleshnya River, which originates in the area of the settlements of Novaya Sech and Khrapovshchina (liberated August 29th, 2026, °04′45″ N 34°57′14″ E, population 285 in 2001). Adjacent to the village and forming a single entity with it is the farming enterprise "Zernovaya Dolina" (formerly the collective farm named after T. Shevchenko). The Н-07 highway runs nearby. To the south lies a large forested area (oak, the “dendropark” in green text below Novaya Sech).

After the village came under Russian Armed Forces control, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line of Khrapovshchina - Kiyanitsa - Khoten (which included defense areas in the settlements of Novaya Sech, Ivolzhanskoye, and Pisarevka), created with reliance on the Oleshnya River and protecting the Н-07 highway in its rocade role (from the settlement of Pisarevka to the settlement of Khrapovshchina), has been practically eliminated. On the right flank, the Khoten defense area remains, and in the center, the Kiyanitsa defense area, from which forest roads lead to the enemy's defensive hub of Vakalovshchina - Bititsa - Pushkarevka.

After the elimination of the enemy's Kiyanitsa and Khoten defense areas, units of the "North" group will reach the Mogritsa - Khoten line, to the northern part (left flank) of the second Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line covering the direction toward the city of Sumy. This defensive line is located in a large forested area, with enemy strongpoints and defense areas located on clearings and connected by logging roads, forest roads, and trails.

To the south, relying on the Porozok, Zhitich, Kalanchak, Oleshnya, and Psel rivers, are located the stronghold areas of the third Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line protecting the Т-19-01 rocade, Velikaya Rybitsa - Sumy.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Center' group of forces have liberated the settlements of Rubezhnoye and Novoandreevka in the Donetsk People's Republic."

Units of the "Center" group are developing on success in the area of the breakthrough toward the settlement of Andreevskaya Obshchina (Andreevka) and have begun advancing to the east, toward the western outskirts of the city of Druzhkovka. On August 29, the settlement of Novoandreevka (48°35′58″ N 37°21′10″ E, population 96 in 2001) was liberated. A small village in the area of the quarries of the Druzhkovka Mine.

To the south, fighting is ongoing in the settlement of Novogrigorovka; after this, with converging axes toward the settlement of Staroraiskoye, Russian units will form a wide staging area for further development of the envelopment of the city of Druzhkovka from the western direction, with the right flank relying on the Kazenny Torets River.

To the west, after the liberation of the settlement of Kucherov Yar (August 24), units of the 35th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade are developing an offensive toward the Gruzskaya River and, on August 29, liberated the settlement of Rubezhnoye (48°30′38″ N 37°11′37″ E, population 105 in 2001). It is located in the area of the headwaters of the Gruzskaya River, on the heights west of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defense area in the settlement of Zolotoy Kolodez.

After its liberation, from the Zolotoy Kolodez - Rubezhnoye bridgehead, the main vector of movement may shift in the direction of the settlement of Novovodyanoye, enveloping the city of Belozerskoye from the east and, after the liberation of the city of Dobropolye, reaching it from the south. This maneuver will force the Ukrainian command to take urgent measures to contain this breakthrough, stretching its forces and assets from other nearby important sectors.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' group of forces have liberated the settlement of Shevchenkovskoye in Zaporozhye Oblast."

Units of the "East" group are reaching the Н-15 highway on the Zelenaya Dolina - Trudovoye line.

On August 27, the settlement of Shevchenkovskoye (47°55′35″ N 36°04′18″ E, population 258 in 2001) was liberated. The Shirochanskaya ravine stretches through the village, along which a stream flows, forming a pond before a dam. The distance to the H-15 highway is about 2 kilometers, and it is already under Russian Armed Forces fire control.

Over the course of two weeks, units of the Russian army group eliminated the large Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub of Novoye Pole - Zelenoye - Shevchenkovskoye - Zelenaya Dolina. The Bandera forces are hastily regrouping and preparing new lines, areas, and defensive hubs on the axis of the Russian advance. In the zone of the Н-15 highway, the enemy has prepared a defensive hub at Zelenaya Dolina - Trudovoye - Novoukrainka, covering the exits into Dnepropetrovsk Oblast (the settlement of Pokrovskoye) and to the transport-logistics hub and fortified area of Novonikolaevka, with its flanks relying on the Volchya River and the Nechaevskaya and Shirochanskaya ravines.

West of the settlement of Shevchenkovskoye, toward the Verkhnyaya Tersa River, stretches the watershed of the Shirochanskaya and Sokolovskaya ravines. It is filled with enemy blocking positions in forest belts, and there are no settlements there. To the south, the watershed of the Sokolovskaya and Gorkaya ravines controls the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub of Samoylovka - Svetlaya Dolina - Zorevka.

Following the liberation of the settlements of Shevchenkovskoye and Nezhenka (August 26), a bridgehead has been formed on this sector of the forward edge for developing flanking envelopments of this defensive hub and reaching the Т-04-08 highway on the Ternovka - Voskresenka line, north of the Barvinovka defense area, which Russian units are approaching from the Nezhenka - Lyubitskoye line.

The situation indicates that a phased breakthrough of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line on the broad Novonikolaevka - Lyubitskoye front is being prepared.

Units of the "North" group are expanding the bridgehead in the area of the Oleshnya River, north of the city of Sumy. Control has been established over the large village of Pisarevka (51°04′46″ N 34°50′06″ E, population 831 in 2001), whose eastern outskirts border the settlement of Ivolzhanskoye, liberated on June 24, and whose western side adjoins the settlement of Khoten, connecting to it via the O-191513 rocade, which to the west, in the area of the settlement of Sklyarovka, adjoins the strategic P-44 rocade. The H-07 highway passes through the village, from which the regional center of Sumy is 16 kilometers away.

Control over the settlement of Pisarevka disrupts communication between the flanks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Vakalovshchina - Khoten defensive line.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' group of forces have liberated the settlement of Nezhenka in Zaporozhye Oblast."

Units of the "East" group are expanding the bridgehead in the center of the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye direction. This bridgehead is a starting line for breaking through the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line at the Zelenaya Dibrova - Barvinovka hub. It is located north of the Lyubitskoye - Novosoloshino breakthrough sector and, through the settlements of Vasilkovoye and Vasilevskoye, along the O-081345 road, connects the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Novonikolaevka - Orekhov defensive line with rear areas and the city of Zaporozhye.

On August 26, the settlement of Nezhenka (47°49′51″ N 35°59′03″ E, population 12 in 2001) was liberated, located on the watershed of the Gorkaya and Bezymyannaya ravines. A tactically advantageous line for advancing toward the Zelenaya Dibrova - Barvinovka line.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Center' group of forces have liberated the settlement of Annovka in the Donetsk People's Republic."

Annovka (48°29′09″ N 37°07′06″ E, population 1,095 in 2001) is the northeastern suburb of the city of Dobropolye. The village transitions seamlessly into the city. It is located on both banks of the Byk River. In the 1870s and 1880s, coal deposits were found on these lands. In 1883, landowner Ivan Yenin established the first mine on his property, extracting coal for his own needs. The village was named after his sister, landowner Anna Yenina. In 1912, two more mines were opened near the village on the bank of the Byk River. The left-bank part of the village is still called Yenovka. This part of the village adjoins the slag heap of the Dobropolskaya mine and the sludge settlers (the slag heaps, or “terrikons” are symbolized by the triangles next to the mines).

A dam was built on the Byk River, forming the large Annovsky Pond. The T-05-14 highway, Dobropolye - Kramatorsk, passes through the village; it was previously cut in the area of the settlement of Andreevka, and after the liberation of the village of Annovka, coordination between the Dobropolye sector of the Ukrainian defense and the Gruzskoye - Rubezhnoye sector has been disrupted.

By further advancing along the Byk River to the west, toward the Almaznaya mine, Russian units will gain the opportunity to bring the T-05-15 highway under control and disrupt the connection between the Dobropolye sector and the second defensive line of Novotroitskoye - Krivorozhye and deep Ukraine.

In the Sumy direction, another sector of the buffer zone has been activated. On the right flank of the Miropolye - Ivolzhanskoye sector, control was taken over the settlement of Pershe Travnya (51°09′53″ N 34°43′09″ E, since 2024 — Novokonstantinovka, population 26 in 2001). It is located on the border of the Russian Federation with Sumy Oblast of Ukraine, roughly equidistant from the active Miropolye - Ivolzhanskoye sector and the Novy Put - Tetkino sector to the west.

These sectors of the Kharkov direction are connected by the O-191505, O-191501, and O-190101 rocades along the Khoten - Pershe Travnya - Pavlovka - Belopolye line. This is the first system of rocades, providing positions along the border, which has been ruptured in the area of the settlement of Pershe Travnya. The next, second system of rocades is located in the operational depth of the enemy's defense system, approximately 7 kilometers southwest of the first. It consists of a network of rocade roads O-191513 and O-191502, which connect the two sectors along the Khoten - Nikolaevka - Sofievka - P-44 highway line (the short arm of the second line). And the long arm: Khoten - Spasskoye - Yastrebinoe - Rechki - Belopolye. The third belt of rocade supply is based on the R-44 highway, Sumy - Belopolye - Glukhov (northwest of where the map cuts off).

By developing the bridgehead from the settlement of Pershe Travnya toward Stepnoye - Yastrebinoe, the Russian Armed Forces rupture the network of second-echelon rocades in the Yastrebinoe area — the long arm of the second echelon. And by reaching the Pisarevka - Khoten line, they sever the connection between the sectors along the short arm of the rocades (gaining fire control over the roads connecting Yastrebinoe and Spasskoye).

Blocking the transport network of the front-line zone, combined with massive strikes by missile, aviation, and unmanned systems against transport and industrial hubs in the strategic depth, disrupts the supply and command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, depletes the enemy's reserves of forces and assets, and ensures their defeat on the main directions of the Special Military Operation.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Center' group of forces, as a result of active operations, have liberated the settlement of Kucherov Yar in the Donetsk People's Republic."

On the central sector of the Donetsk direction, units of the "Center" group have begun the destruction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line built relying on the Kazenny Torets and Gruzskaya rivers, on the Druzhkovka - Dobropolye line. Following the breakthrough to the T-05-14 highway on August 17, in the area of the settlement of Andreevka, and the splitting of this line into two sectors, the phased destruction of enemy positions on both sectors began. On August 20, units of the "South" group began advancing along the Lozovaya ravine and liberated the settlement of Nikolaipolye. And on August 24, assault groups of the 132nd Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade (the "Center" group) broke through the enemy's defense in the area of the quarries of “Donbass clays” and liberated the settlement of Kucherov Yar (48°30′23″ N 37°16′28″ E, population 248).

It is located on the watershed ridge of the Kazenny Torets and Gruzskaya rivers. From the Kucherov Yar area, a number of ravines descend toward the Gruzskaya River — Grilichnaya, Viklechnaya, Kucherova, and Velikaya. Relying on these ravines, the enemy placed a network of blocking positions. Up to the Gruzskaya River (about 3 kilometers to the north), there are no settlements. The sector is bounded on the flanks by two paved roads leading to the settlements of Zolotoy Kolodez and Gruzskoye.

Behind the first defensive line (Druzhkovka - Dobropolye), the enemy is rapidly equipping a second line at Novotroitskoye - Belozerskoye - Krivorozhye, relying on the Samara, Vodyanaya, and Gnilusha rivers and a developed transport network that served the numerous clay quarries located in these sectors.

The Russian Armed Forces are delivering fire strikes against the rear areas and into the depth of the second Ukrainian defensive line. Aviation and missile strikes have been carried out against the Novotroitskoye and Belozerskoye areas.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' group of forces advanced into the depth of the enemy's defense and liberated the settlement of Dolinka in Zaporozhye Oblast."

On the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye direction, units of the "East" group, employing the "pendulum" tactic, through alternating activity along the entire front of the sector, stretch the enemy's forces and assets along the forward edge and drive "wedges" of bridgeheads into the weak points that emerge, which, upon further expansion, create "cracks" in the enemy's defense and destroy it.

On August 21, the settlement of Zelenoye was liberated on the right flank, and on August 24, the settlement of Dolinka was liberated in the center of the sector. The Lyubitskoye - Lesnoye - Dolinka bridgehead has been expanded.

On the right flank of this bridgehead, Russian assault units reached the opposite bank of the Verkhnyaya Tersa River and liberated the settlement of Novosoloshino on August 17. On the left flank of the bridgehead, from the Dolinka - Kopani sector, it is possible to develop an advance along the O-0813344 road, reaching the settlement of Svoboda, with flanking envelopments of Ukrainian positions located along the Panyutinskaya ravine. Reaching the T-04-08 rocade along the Lyubitskoye - Svoboda front will expand the breach in the Ukrainian defensive line and allow this bridgehead to be used for a deep northern envelopment of the city of Orekhov area.

Also, you can watch these videos in English and Russian on Tria.

00:00 Intro. How is Russia countering the Starlink system?

00:51 Ukraine’s attempts to cut the overland route to Crimea.

05:00 Rassvet-3, the Russian answer to Starlink.

09:12 Russia’s own cosmodrome to replace Baikonur. Russia built its own space infrastructure.

11:27 “How are we going to shoot down Elon Musk’s satellites?”

13:09 China’s position and their relationship with Russia. Russia is the key to relationships between China and other nations.

19:18 The war in Ukraine is draining the western bloc, and a long war is more in Russia’s interest.

21:39 The real meaning of “Anchorage.” Stopping NATO expansion.

24:31 Cutting off Ukraine’s access to the sea. Lessons about blockades. A furry friend joins!

28:12 Why all of this is bad news for Europe.

29:22 NATO countries will not fight for one another, and the West is vulnerable. Russia is prepared for a conflict.

31:53 Poland’s attempts to militarize reveal further weaknesses in NATO’s capabilities. Russia is back, and it is strong, while Europe is at its weakest.

Thanks for watching! Feel free to add more questions in the comments, and all will be sent to Marat!

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' group of forces have liberated the settlement of Zelenoye in Zaporozhye Oblast."

Assault groups of the "East" group are developing the offensive on the northeastern sector of Zaporozhye Oblast and advancing along the C081202 road toward the H-15 highway, liberating the settlements located on this rocade that were part of the large Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive positions hub of Zelenaya Dolina - Shevchenkovskoye - Novoye Pole. In succession, in August, the following settlements were liberated: on August 11 — Novoye Pole, on August 15 — Rybalskoye, and on August 21 — Zelenoye (47°54′30″ N 36°03′33″ E, population 196 in 2001). The village of Zelenoye is located in the Shirochanskaya ravine, 1.5 kilometers north of the settlement of Rybalskoye. To the settlement of Shevchenkovskoye (located to the north), along the C081202 road, it is 2 kilometers, and to the H-15 highway, it is 4.5 kilometers.

To the west are enemy positions in the settlements of Novoukrainka and Golubkovo, which together with the Trudovoye area, located on the H-15 highway, constitute a Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive positions hub covering the direction toward the transport-logistics hub of the northeastern sector of Zaporozhye Oblast — the village of Novonikolaevka. Reaching the section of the H-15 highway between the settlements of Zelenaya Dolina and Trudovoye severs the Pokrovskoye - Novonikolaevka transport line and ensures Russian units' access to the watershed ridge of the Volchya and Verkhnyaya Tersa rivers, south of their confluence, toward the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive line of Katerinovka - Sorochino. From this line, units of the "East" group gain the ability to exercise fire control over the R-85 and T-04-08 highways, which, through the Vasilkovka transport-logistics hub, supply the southeastern sector of Dnepropetrovsk Oblast of Ukraine and the temporarily enemy-occupied northeastern sector of Zaporozhye Oblast of the Russian Federation.

In the first half of August, units of the "Center" group created a wide bridgehead west of the city of Druzhkovka, in the Novonikolaevka - Petrovka area. And after the breakthrough into the depth of the Ukrainian defense, reaching the settlement of Andreevka and severing transport communication along the T-05-14 rocade, the enemy was forced to transfer part of its forces and assets to this sector to halt the development of the breakthrough. The command of the "South" group (operating on the neighboring sector, east of the Lozovaya ravine) took advantage of this. On August 20, the settlement of Nikolaipolye (48°31′29″ N 37°33′10″ E, population 483 in 2001) was liberated.

Further advance along the Lozovaya ravine toward the assault units of the "Center" group, in the area of Raiskoye-2, threatens the complete encirclement of Ukrainian units occupying positions on the line of the Lozovaya and Berestovataya ravines. After control is established over the territory between the Lozovaya ravine and the C050828 road, along the line of demarcation between the zones of responsibility of the "South" and "Center" army groups, the Russian Armed Forces will form a wide bridgehead on the western outskirts of the city of Druzhkovka and the settlement of Alekseevo-Druzhkovka. Actions from this bridgehead to the north will form a deep envelopment of the Kramatorsk-Druzhkovka agglomeration and split the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operational-strategic line of Kramatorsk - Andreevka - Dobropolye into several isolated pockets of resistance, which will be destroyed one by one. Subsequently, this bridgehead will become the base for an advance to the north, with a western outflanking of the city of Slavyansk.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Center' group of forces have liberated the settlement of Matyashevo in the Donetsk People's Republic."

Following the liberation of the settlements of Krasnopodolye and Vodyanskoye, Russian Armed Forces units, without slowing their pace, are continuing the elimination of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub south of the city of Dobropolye on the shoulders of the retreating enemy. On August 20, assault groups of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division liberated the settlement of Matyashevo (48°24′32″ N 37°04′06″ E, population 233 in 2001). The village of Matyashevo, together with the settlements of Dobropolye and Novogrishino, constitutes a Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub covering the O0518 rocade, which leads from this area to the southern outskirts of the city of Dobropolye. The destruction of this enemy defensive hub will allow Russian units to reach the Lisya ravine, which can serve as a starting line for storming the southern quarters of the city.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "As a result of decisive actions by units of the 'Center' group of forces, the settlement of Vodyanskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic has been liberated."

In the area of the city of Dobropolye, units of the "Center" group have entered the northern outskirts of the city and consolidated on the line of Annovka village to the sludge settling pools. On the left flank, they are advancing south along the Kumochka ravine and the Kulichka River — tributaries of the Vodyanaya River. Here are located mining settlements that transition into one another, forming a continuous line of artificial obstacles. Relying on these settlements, the enemy created a defensive line protecting the approaches to the city of Dobropolye from the south. On August 18, Russian assault groups liberated the village of Krasnopodolye, and on August 19, the mining settlement of Vodyanskoye (48°24′34″ N 37°06′15″ E, population 1,725 in 2001) was liberated. To reach the southern quarters of the city, which are 3 kilometers away in a straight line, Russian units need to reach the Dobropolye village - Matyashevo line and, having covered their left flank with screens along the watershed of the Gluboki Yar ravine to the Vodyanaya River, turn north and, having crossed the Lisya ravine along the O0518 road, reach the heights of 180.5 and 182.7 in the area of the Dobropolye Bakery and the Zheleznodorozhny quarter. Here, the enemy has created a defensive hub that covers the southern entrance to the city and the T-05-15 highway, which connects the city with the deep territory of Ukraine.

For a month and a half, the enemy attempted to halt the advancing units of the "South" Group in the area of the settlement of Rai-Aleksandrovka through counterattacks, and to reach the line east of Kaleniki - Rai-Aleksandrovka. These enemy actions were motivated by internal political struggles within the leadership of the country and the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and were aimed at organizing a propaganda PR campaign.

Russian units inflicted defeat on the enemy's counterattacking formations, exhausted them in mobile defense, and on August 18, on the left flank of this sector, advanced forward along the bed of the Seversky Donets-Donbass canal and liberated the settlement of Orekhovatka (48°48′20″ N 37°46′09″ E, population 172 in 2001). The village is located near the right bank of the canal. 500 meters to the north is the pumping station of the second cascade of the canal.

The Rai-Aleksandrovka - Orekhovatka - Yurkovka bridgehead allows Russian units (depending on the situation) to act with operational freedom in choosing directions for developing the offensive:

· Between the canal bed and the Bakai River, reaching the north toward the Belyaev ravine, to form a southeastern envelopment of the settlement of Nikolaevka;

· Moving to the southwest, crossing behind the M-03 highway to the rear of Ukrainian positions along the Chagar ravine and the cliffs of Branch No. 1 of the "Kramatorsky" landscape park (converging with units that liberated the settlement of Pershomaryevka) toward the Nikanorovka - Vasilevskaya Pustosh line.

Simultaneously with the active operations of the left flank of the Kramatorsk - Dobropolye operational area (the "Center" Group's Novonikolaevka - Andreyevskaya Obshchina sector), the driving of "wedges" for future envelopments and outflanking maneuvers is beginning on the right flank of the area (Rai-Aleksandrovka - Vasyutinskoye).

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Center' Group , as a result of ongoing operations, have liberated the settlement of Krasnopodolye in the Donetsk People's Republic."

On the Dobropolye sector of the Donetsk direction, units of the "Center" Group are completing the elimination of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub in the agglomeration of mining settlements south of the city of Dobropolye, located on the Vodyanaya River.

On August 18, the settlement of Krasnopodolye (48°25′12″ N 37°05′22″ E, population 281 in 2001) was liberated. The village is located on the Kulichka stream, a tributary of the Vodyanaya River, on flat, gently undulating open terrain with groves and forest belts. 3 kilometers to the north is the city of Dobropolye. After the clearance of the remaining enemy defense areas in this sector — Matyashevo - Dobropolye (the smaller village, not the larger town to the north) — access from the south to the city will open, with it being deeply enveloped.

Units of the "Center" Group made a dash to the northwest from the settlement of Novonikolaevka, liberated on August 16, and liberated the settlement of Andreevka (48°37′01″ N 37°17′00″ E, population 1,044 in 2001). In 1957, the villages of Novo-Alexandrovka (First and Second), Solenyenkaya, and Selidovo were merged into one — Andreevka — hence the second name, Andreyevskaya Obshchina. The village of Andreevka is located on the T-05-14 highway, Kramatorsk — Dobropolye. The distance to Kramatorsk is 28 km. The distance from the settlement of Novonikolaevka to the village of Andreevka is 7 kilometers, through the clay quarry of PJSC "Vesko." In early August 2025, on a neighboring sector, Russian assault troops carried out a similar breakthrough from Mayak to Kucherov Yar to Zolotoy Kolodez, reaching the forefield of the city of Dobropolye and conducting reconnaissance in force without consolidating in the settlements. Now, the settlement of Andreevka has been liberated, holding units have entered this area, and the bridgehead will be developed.

The T-05-14 highway has been physically cut, and the Druzhkovka - Dobropolye sector has been split into two sectors, which will be cleared separately. One of the sectors already has the shape of an operational salient — the Kucherov Yar salient, whose flanks are controlled by Russian units.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' Group have liberated the settlement of Novosoloshino in Zaporozhye Oblast."

On the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye direction, units of the "East" Group are developing their success in the center of the sector, expanding the bridgehead on the left bank of the Verkhnyaya Tersa River and increasing the line of breakthrough of the enemy's Novonikolaevka - Orekhov defensive line. On August 17, the settlement of Novosoloshino (47°44′59″ N 35°55′15″ E, population 136 in 2001) was liberated. It is located on the opposite (left) bank of the river, 1.5 km from the bank. Assault units of the 39th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade are driving a wedge into the Nazi defense, entering the zone of tactical depth of its defense in the area of the Solontsevataya ravine, and occupying advantageous positions on the terrain. The expansion of this bridgehead in the direction of the settlement of Barvinovka or Nikolskoye - Obshchee will allow the formation of a staging area for reaching the enemy's Omelnik - Orekhov defensive hub from the northern direction.

In the area of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Kazachya Lopan defensive hub, units of the "North" Group continue to expand the bridgehead on the left flank of the sector. On August 11, enemy positions in the Shcherbakovka defense area were taken under control, and on August 16, advancing south toward the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub of Goptovka - Kudiyevka - Tokarevka - Shopino, the settlement of Kudiyevka (50°17′17″ N 36°15′44″ E, population 22 in 2001) was liberated. It is located on the western side of the watershed of the Kharkov and Lopan rivers, along the crest of which the M-20 highway runs. In this area, a gentle descent of the terrain to the west toward the Lopan River begins, and the Tartarka, Kamyshevakha rivers and the Siderchina ravine originate. The wide lowland from the settlement of Kudiyevka to the settlement of Tokarevka descends toward Dubovka - Tsapovka and reaches the southern outskirts of the settlement of Kazachya Lopan. Here, the enemy has placed the defensive hub of Goptovka - Tokarevka - Kochubeyevka - Shopino, along the rocade of the M-20 - Tsapovka highway. To the north, in the area of the T-21-17 rocade, on the high ground of the interfluve of the Lopan and Tartarka rivers, is an area of enemy blocking positions covering the eastern lines of the Kazachya Lopan - Novaya Kazachya enemy defense area.

Russian Armed Forces units are conducting combat operations to destroy the Goptovka - Tokarevka - Shopino hub and are forming a bridgehead for a southeastern envelopment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub of Kazachya Lopan - Tsupovka - Novaya Kazachya.

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Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'South' Group have liberated the settlement of Pershomaryevka in the Donetsk People's Republic."

The northeastern forefield of the city of Kramatorsk begins with the "Zmeinaya Gora" (“Snake Hill”) nature reserve, which borders the northern branch No. 1 of the "Kramatorsky landscape park." The ravines and chalk cliffs in this area are convenient natural positions for organizing defense. Here, the enemy has placed a network of blocking positions located behind the main defensive line of Nikolaevka - Orekhovatka - Vasyutinskoye. In this sector, units of the "South" Group have broken through the enemy's defensive line along the Vasyutinskoye (liberated on August 9) - Pershomaryevka (48°43′04″ N 37°40′14″ E, population 45 in 2001) axis, liberated on August 16. Advancing through the lowland of the Buzinovy Yar ravine, Russian assault units have reached the base of the "Zmeinaya Gora" elevation. A convenient bridgehead is being prepared for coordination and support of units advancing along the Yurkovka - Nikanorovka - Vasilevskaya Pustosh axis. After the bridgehead is developed to the south, a convenient staging area will be formed for a northern envelopment of Ukrainian positions in the area of the "Kramatorsky landscape park," northeast of the settlement of Belokuzminovka.

From the settlement of Pershomaryevka to one of the districts of the city of Kramatorsk ("Dolina Bednykh") is 4 kilometers; to the Damansky microdistrict is 6 kilometers.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'East' Group have liberated the settlement of Rybalskoye in Zaporozhye Oblast."

The enemy is attempting to break through the right flank of the "East" Group on the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye direction. From the Pokrovskoye - Zelenaya Dolina line, they are counterattacking along the Bogodarovka - Pisantsy axis. They have no success, losing personnel and equipment. Russian units are inflicting fire damage on the second echelons of the counterattacking Ukrainian formations during their deployment to staging areas.

Simultaneously, an offensive is developing against the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hub of Rybalskoye - Zelenoye - Shevchenkovskoye, which covers the enemy's Zelenaya Dolina - Trudovoye defensive line, with access to the H-15 highway and the forefield of the settlement of Novonikolaevka. Novonikolaevka is a transport-logistics hub of the enemy, supplying the southern sectors of Dnepropetrovsk Oblast and the northern positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Zaporozhye direction. Blockading it is one of the main objectives of Russian units in this sector. In the course of carrying out this task, on August 11, the settlement of Novoye Pole was liberated, and today, August 15, the settlement of Rybalskoye (47°53′15″ N 36°04′12″ E, population 54 in 2001) was liberated. The bridgehead on the right flank is being expanded, with a wedge driven into the enemy's defensive line, which will become a staging area for developing the offensive toward Shevchenkovskoye and Samoylovka.

Also, you can watch these videos in English and Russian on Tria.

00:00 Intro. Recent changes in the Russian Military.

05:53 The appointment of Andrey Ivanaev was transferred from the command of the “East” (Vostok) Group to that of the “Center” Group.

10:06 Audience question:

“The front line stretches over 1000 km, but do Marat and Colonel Popov share my opinion that, when the last fortified defensive lines of the Donbass region are completely liberated, the morale of the fascist regime will collapse?

Furthermore, I am interested in the current distribution of Russian resources and manpower across different sections of the front, that is, whether the Donbass (what remains of it) is a priority for the Russian command.

11:36 Reflections on the battle of Bakhmut (Artemovsk) and Kursk. The beginning of the decline in the morale of the Ukrainian Forces.

16:10 The largest concentrations of the Russian Forces. The fall of Syrsky, and the current state of Ukrainian losses and morale.

22:42 How much longer will the Ukrainians be able to continue fighting? How much of an impact does the West have on this timeline? The Russian blockade on Odessa and Nikolaev.

Thanks for watching!

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Center' Group have liberated the settlement of Novonikolaevka in the Donetsk People's Republic."

Following the liberation of the settlement of Petrovka (August 13), assault troops of the "Center" Group sharply shifted the axis of their advance from east to west, crossed the Gruzskaya River, and liberated the urban-type settlement of Novonikolaevka (48°33′44″ N 37°22′14″ E, population 118 in 2001, granted settlement status in 2024). The settlement stretches from east to west along the left bank of the river for 2.5 kilometers. The settlement originated in the area of the clay quarry of PJSC "VESKO," located 2.5 kilometers to the north. In the area of the clay quarries of PJSC "VESKO" and the Druzhkovka Ore Administration, on the heights, the enemy established a defensive line that covers the railway branch and the T-05-14 highway, which connects the two main Ukrainian Armed Forces' defensive hubs of Kramatorsk and Dobropolye. The presence of industrial sites and quarries ensures a well-developed transport network, giving the enemy the ability to maneuver forces and assets in this sector.

The command of the "Center" Group took advantage of the fact that at this time of year, the Gruzskaya River is shallow, and began developing the offensive to the west from the settlement of Toretskoye. The Petrovka - Novonikolaevka bridgehead will be filled with holding units in the shortest possible time to develop success both on the left bank of the Gruzskaya River and along the right bank of the Kazenny Torets River.

Intensive combat work is beginning to form a western envelopment of the city of Druzhkovka.

Message from the Russian Ministry of Defense: "Units of the 'Center' Group have liberated the settlement of Petrovka in the Donetsk People's Republic."

Units of the "Center" Group are expanding the bridgehead along the right bank of the Kazenny Torets River west of the city of Druzhkovka. Today, the settlement of Petrovka (48°33′54″ N 37°27′15″ E, population 21 in 2001) was liberated. In this area, the western outskirts of the city of Druzhkovka cover enemy positions in the settlement of Raiskoye-2, which is connected to the settlement of Raiskoye on the opposite bank of the Kazenny Torets River by a bridge. At this same point, the Lozovaya ravine, along which a stream flows, ends.

The two bridges connecting the settlement of Raiskoye with the right bank of the river are located (first) 350 meters south of the point where the Berestovaya ravine flows into the river (the western outskirts of the city of Druzhkovka), and (second) near the junction of the Berestovaya ravine with the (Kazenny Torets) river. In the settlement of Raiskoye-2, a dam has been built, forming the “Raisky Pond” (stavok).

Enemy positions are built relying on these natural obstacles. From the settlement of Raiskoye-2 to the Gornyak area (southwestern district of the city of Druzhkovka), along the C050828 road, is 3 kilometers.

The logic of the situation suggests that the settlement of Raiskoye-2 should prepare itself.