Russia claims approach to Slovyansk, DeepState confirms aggravation on the approaches

Chief of the General Staff of the RF Valeriy Gerasimov said that Russian troops have allegedly approached within 4 km of the eastern outskirts of Slovyansk and, in some areas, have over comes the first line of defense of the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. Ukrainian sources do not confirm the distance claimed by Russia, but DeepState records infiltration of Russian groups in the Mykolaivka area and warns that the enemy is preparing conditions for a further offensive on Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

According to Gerasimov, the Russian “South” group is advancing on a front about 160 km wide in several directions at once. He claims that units of the 3rd Army of the Russian Federation continue to advance towards Slovyansk.

“There are 4 kilometers left to the eastern outskirts of Slovyansk,” - said the chief of the Russian General Staff.

Gerasimov also claims that Russian troops are fighting east of Kramatorsk, and that forward assault groups allegedly have already entered the territory of the airfield, approximately 3 km from the city’s outskirts.

There is no independent confirmation of these claims so far. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not reported either the advance of Russian troops to the Kramatorsk airfield or the establishment of stable control by them at a distance of 4 km from Slovyansk.

DeepState records infiltration near Mykolaivka

At the same time, DeepState analysts confirm a significant aggravation of the situation on the approaches to Slovyansk. According to their data, the key settlements for the further advance of the Russians in this area are now Raihorodok and Mykolaivka.

Raihorodok is still confidently held by Ukrainian forces. Whereas in Mykolaivka, analysts record Russian groups trying to infiltrate through Ukrainian positions.

DeepState considers this a sign that Russian troops are looking for weak points in the defense, which can later be used to develop the offensive.

Ukrainian drone operators manage to detect and destroy such groups, but the problem is that individual penetrations are difficult to track in time.

Kryva Luka remains problematic

DeepState pays special attention to the Kryva Luka area, where the presence of Russian servicemen was also recorded.

Orikhuvatka and Rai-Oleksandrivka remain important for the defense of Slovyansk. The Russians still need to advance to Orikhuvatka, while attempts to infiltrate into Rai-Oleksandrivka have already been made.

According to analysts, Ukrainian units have so far held Rai-Oleksandrivka and prevent the Russians from consolidating, destroying groups that penetrate into the settlement. However, this is becoming more difficult due to a shortage of personnel.

DeepState explicitly states that the problem with the number of troops concerns, in general, the brigades holding this area.

General Staff confirms active attacks in the Slovyansk direction

The daily report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the past day also indicates the activity of Russian troops in this sector of the front.

In the Slovyansk direction, the Russians carried out six assaults in the areas of Ozerne, Zakitne and Kryva Luka, as well as in the direction of Mykolaivka.

In the Kramatorsk direction, three more offensive actions by the Russian Federation were recorded in the areas of Fedoroka Druha and Nykyforivka.

At the same time, the General Staff report does not contain information about battles directly on the territory of the Kramatorsk airfield, about which Gerasimov has claimed.

RF prepares conditions for an offensive on two cities

According to DeepState's assessment, the enemy is already creating the groundwork for further offensive actions against Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

Simultaneously with ground assaults, Russia systematically attacks the cities of the agglomeration with aerial bombs, missiles and drones, gradually destroying buildings and infrastructure.

Analysts also urge to closely monitor the section from Malynivka to Maiske. The terrain there may allow small Russian groups to infiltrate towards Kramatorsk.

According to DeepState, earlier the situation in this section was particularly dangerous due to unreliable reports to the command. After the change of leadership of the 11th Army Corps, the situation began to gradually rectify.

Kostyantynivka and Chasiv Yar are also under strong pressure

The most active battles within the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, according to DeepState's estimate, are now taking place around Kostyantynivka.

Analysts note that the situation has already gone beyond the usual battles on the outskirts: Russian servicemen are actively infiltrating directly into the city, hiding in buildings, basements and ruins. Ukrainian units have to constantly carry out clearing operations.

After advancing in the area of Illinivka, the Russians are trying to expand the zone of control west of Kostyantynivka and increase pressure on the city.

At the same time, DeepState discusses a particularly dangerous situation around Chasiv Yar. Ukrainian troops continue to hold positions in the city itself, but Russian forces are trying to envelop it from the flanks. If their positions collapse, the situation of the Ukrainian grouping may become significantly more difficult.

Zelenskyy announced reinforcement of Donetsk region

The aggravation on the approaches to Slovyansk and Kramatorsk is taking place against the background of personnel and organizational changes in the Ukrainian military.

On August 26, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the positions of the Defense Forces in Donetsk region would be reinforced by two updated groupings. They will be led by Heroes of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko and Andriy Biletskyi.

Even earlier, the president had announced a decision to additionally reinforce Ukrainian units specifically in the Slovyansk direction and in the Kostyantynivka area.

Thus, Gerasimov's claim of 4 km to Slovyansk currently remains a statement of the Russian side and is not confirmed by Ukrainian sources as the actual line of control. At the same time, data from DeepState and the General Staff indicate that Russian troops are indeed increasing pressure on the approaches to Slovyansk and attempting to create conditions for a further offensive against the last major cities under Ukraine's control in the north of Donetsk region.

Based on materials from: DeepState, Office of the President of Ukraine, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine