Russia advances on Pokrovsk direction, blitzkrieg breaks down in Sumy region: what the Armed Forces say about it
5 August 2025 15:00
Russian troops continue to attempt a breakthrough in the Sumy sector, while Ukrainian forces are conducting counteroffensives in Donetsk region, particularly in the area of Pokrovsk.
This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Pokrovsk direction
According to analysts, Ukrainian units have recently been able to advance in the area northeast of Krasnyi Lyman and southeast of Lysivka, both of which are located near Pokrovsk.
At the same time, there is a possibility that Russian troops have made some tactical advances in the area of Leontovychi, south of the city.
Sumy sector: Ukrainian Armed Forces hold back Russian offensive in the north of the region – ISW
Russian troops continue offensives in the north of Sumy region, but have not achieved any confirmed success. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Despite the pressure from the enemy, Ukrainian forces are holding defensive positions near Novomykolaivka, located north of Sumy. In addition, Ukrainian units managed to push the enemy back in the area between Klyndrivka and Andriivka.
Also on August 3 and 4, Russian troops attacked the border areas of Sumy region, in particular near Klyndrivka (north of Sumy) and Yunakivka (northeast of the city).
The main target of the occupiers in Donetsk region
In an exclusive commentary for "Komersant Ukrainian", the spokesman for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, Serhiy Bratchuk, spoke about the current situation at the front, particularly around Pokrovsk, in Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. According to him, Russia has concentrated significant forces in the Pokrovsk sector and is trying to reach operationally important frontiers to continue its offensive deep into Donetsk region.
“It is obvious that today the priority for the Russian occupation forces remains the same – Pokrovsk,” noted Bratchuk.
He emphasized that the enemy is trying to surround the city from several directions at once – Novopavlivske, Pivdenne and another – in order to start street fighting and gain control over Pokrovsk as a key defense hub.
“Today the enemy has concentrated its biggest efforts there – both equipment and personnel,” added Bratchuk.
The enemy’s tactics remain unchanged – “infiltration” in small groups, as previously described by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrsky.
“The goal is to reach the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration and occupy the entire Donetsk region,” explained the UDA spokesman.
At the same time, according to Bratchuk, Russia has intensified its efforts in the Liman-Kupyansk direction. The goal is to get closer to Kupyansk and create a foothold on the right bank of the Oskil River.
“The enemy has not fulfilled the task – there is no reinforcement with a mechanized component, so the advance is complicated,” he noted.
Russia is trying to act with infantry, as it is difficult to transport equipment across the Oskil. In the Sumy sector, the occupants also intensified combat operations, but lost the initiative due to effective counterattacks by Ukrainian forces.
“The blitzkrieg in Sumy region failed. The enemy is suffering losses and is forced to retreat from some positions,” said Bratchuk.
However, the spokesman emphasized that it was not a large-scale counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but rather pointed actions by mobile units that stabilize the situation in critical areas.
Kharkiv region: attempts to create a “false front”
Russian troops are trying to pull back Ukrainian reserves by imitating activity in the Kharkiv sector.
“Russians tried to cross the state border, for example, near Hoptivka. But they suffered losses and were pushed back,” Bratchuk said.
He emphasized that the enemy is using the gray zone for sabotage and reconnaissance groups and is trying to “stretch” the Ukrainian defense.
Zaporizhzhia sector: attempts to advance to Stepnohirsk
In the south, the enemy tried to advance toward Stepnohirsk to threaten the regional center of Zaporizhzhia.
“It has not been possible to stop the enemy completely, but the advance has no operational and tactical significance,” noted Bratchuk.
Ukrainian forces conducted a series of successful counterattacks, in particular in the area of Kamianske, and managed to regain some positions.
Kherson region: the enemy is regrouping on the left bank
Separately, the UDA spokesperson mentioned the situation in the Dnipro sector, where the occupiers do not stop their attacks.
“Over the past few days, the attacks have decreased slightly, which may indicate a regrouping of the Dnipro group’s forces,” Bratchuk said.
Russia is trying to break through to Pokrovsk: what is known
Russian troops are trying to advance towards Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, using the tactics of small sabotage groups. This was previously reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi.
According to him, the enemy is actively using the so-called “infiltration” strategy – small groups are trying to penetrate deep into the defense positions. One of such groups recently made its way to Pokrovsk, but was neutralized by the defense forces.
The Ukrainian military reports that enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups are being destroyed on the outskirts of the city.
On July 31, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also recorded the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of northern Lysivka in the Pokrovsk sector. At the same time, British intelligence notes that, despite local successes, Russian troops are suffering significant losses in the area – the cost of the offensive has been extremely high.
