Overview
- The Defense Ministry said five Ukrainian soldiers were captured and evacuated from Volchansk during clearing operations, describing conditions for further movement on the Kharkiv axis.
- Russian security services reported destroying long‑range UAV launch sites in the Kharkiv region near the city’s airport and Velykyi Burluk.
- New ministry‑released videos and unit accounts from the Krasnoarmeysk operation describe close‑quarters incidents, including a grenade kicked back into a Ukrainian position and a surprise encounter with an FPV drone team.
- Russian authorities cited heavy Ukrainian losses over the past day and said a Ukrainian assault group on the Kharkiv front was largely neutralized during a failed counterattack.
- Inside Russia, the ministry reported nine drones downed over Samara region as local channels and the Syzran mayor noted sirens and a reported refinery fire during the overnight attack.