Russian missile strike on Kostiantynivka: civilian casualties and damage reported. Earlier today, Russian forces shelled the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, igniting a fire at the site. The strike hit a supermarket in the city, as confirmed by Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, “The Russian terrorists’ attack on a regular supermarket and post office has trapped people under the rubble. A rescue operation is ongoing, and everything possible will be done to save lives.” The National Police later reported that the death toll in Kostiantynivka had risen to 14, with 43 others injured, and that residential buildings, shops, and a number of civilian vehicles were also badly damaged.
Ukrainian strike reportedly destroys Russian military convoy in the Kursk region. In Russia’s Kursk region, a Ukrainian strike reportedly obliterated a Russian military convoy near the village of Oktyabrskoye, just 8 km from Rylsk. The attack, captured on video and circulated across pro-military Russian Telegram channels, has drawn significant attention. OSINT analysts indicate that the convoy was targeted on a road that once linked the Ukrainian town of Hlukhiv with Kursk, roughly 30 km from the Ukrainian border. While some reports speculate that Ukrainian forces might have employed HIMARS rocket systems, this detail remains unverified, according to Russian Telegram sources.
Ukrainian drones hit Russian airbase, causing massive explosion. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in coordination with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Special Operations Forces, executed a drone strike on the Russian military airbase “Lipetsk-2.” At the time of the attack, the base was home to several dozen fighter jets, helicopters, and over 700 guided aerial bombs. The strike set off a massive explosion, sparking a chain reaction that engulfed the base in flames. Russian authorities confirmed the blast and ordered the evacuation of nearby residents. According to Ukraine’s news website Censor.net, its sources in the Security Service of Ukraine claimed that most of the aircraft stationed at the base were unable to take off before the strike hit.
UK Defence Ministry: Russia’s costly infantry assaults focus on Donetsk region. The UK Ministry of Defence has reported that Russia continues to rely heavily on costly infantry assaults in its efforts to make gradual gains in Ukrainian territory. These operations have been particularly focused in the central Donetsk region, where recent Russian advances have brought them closer to Pokrovsk—a crucial logistical hub that plays a key role in supporting Ukrainian military operations in the area. Also, Russian forces have been fortifying their positions near the settlement of Niu York, which has raised concerns about the potential threat to the nearby city of Toretsk. The ongoing military activity in these areas is part of a broader strategy to weaken Ukraine’s defences and secure key positions, but it comes at a significant cost. According to British intelligence, while Russia has managed to achieve some tactical progress, the gains have been slow and hard-fought, reflecting the persistent challenges that Russian forces face on the ground. The high costs of these operations, both in terms of manpower and resources, underscore the difficulty of sustaining such an approach in the long term.
