SMO summary for the week

The Russian Armed Forces struck the supply of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kharkiv, made a new breakthrough toward Zaporizhzhia, and also came close to the key agglomeration in the DPR. More details in the material of VFokuse Mail.

From October 17 to 23, the Armed Forces of Russia delivered 3 massive and 11 group strikes, as a result of which enterprises of the military-industrial complex, logistics centers, and objects of energy and transport infrastructure used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were hit. In addition, during the attacks, places of production, assembly, and storage of UAVs, warehouses of military-technical property, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian Armed Forces militants and foreign mercenaries were hit.

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, objects of Ukrainian port infrastructure that ensured the reception, storage, and distribution of military cargoes were put out of action.

The defense ministry also noted that during the week 14 dry cargo ships and 1 container ship that were involved in the supply of weapons, military equipment, and dual-use products for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were hit.

Strike on the supply of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

During the past week, units of the “West” grouping of forces occupied more advantageous positions and took control of the settlements of Palamarevka and Kovalevka in the Kharkiv region.

Military correspondent Alexander Kots clarified that the village of Palamarevka is located 7 kilometers northwest of Kupyansk and 4 kilometers west of Kondrashovka, whose liberation the Ministry of Defense of Russia reported on May 30, 2025. According to him, the settlement of Kovalevka is located 2 kilometers south of Palamarevka.

“When moving from these villages eastward toward the Russia-controlled Kondrashovka and Radkovka, ‘West’ can cut the R79 highway and the railway leading to Velykyi Burluk. The enemy’s Kupyansk grouping is supplied along them,” the military correspondent noted.

The Ministry of Defense added that the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this direction amounted to more than 1,560 militants, 19 armored vehicles, 130 vehicles, 12 field artillery guns, and 7 electronic warfare stations.

Destroyed “Azov”* militants and liberated important settlements in the DPR

During the week, units of the “Center” grouping of forces took control of the settlements of Dobropillya, Pervomayskoye, and Sergeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Deputy company commander with the call sign Chip said that during the liberation of the settlement of Pervomayskoye, Russian fighters “entered carefully.” According to him, Ukrainian Armed Forces militants clung to every meter until the last, but Russian servicemen drove them out, clearing house by house.

“For someone this is just a piece of land, but for us it is sleepless nights, wounds, and care for each other. We entered carefully. In our business the main thing is people,” Chip emphasized.

Military correspondent Evgeny Poddubny told details of the liberation of Dobropillya. According to him, the marines of the “Center” grouping of forces achieved success in establishing control over the settlement thanks to precise tactics. Its essence consisted of a phased “seepage” through the combat orders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a consistent buildup of forces, which ultimately made it possible to form a powerful strike fist and solve a large-scale combat task, he added.

“Even at the beginning of May, that is, before the introduction of forward groups into Dobropillya, the marines systematically worked on isolating the city: they blocked the enemy’s logistics routes. Fire crews received a clear task — to block the supply of the Ukrainian Armed Forces coming from nearby settlements: Svyatogorovka, Annivka, and Belozerskoye,” the military correspondent wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the “Center” grouping of forces inflicted defeat on several brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the week, including militants from “Azov”*. In total, in the zone of its responsibility, the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to more than 2,405 soldiers, 44 armored vehicles, 53 vehicles, 16 field artillery guns, and 15 electronic warfare stations.

Five settlements came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces

Over the past week, the Russian grouping of forces “East” advanced into the depth of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defense and also took control of the settlements of Omelnyk, Tymoshivka, Chervonyi Yar, and Myrovka in the Zaporizhzhia region and Velikomikhailovka in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated.

Military correspondent Kots clarified that during the liberation of the settlement of Myrovka, Russian fighters destroyed up to a company of enemy infantry, six armored combat vehicles, 13 vehicles, 27 motorcycles and quad bikes, 21 ground robotic systems, and more than 90 hexacopters of the “Baba-Yaga” type.

“The ‘East’ grouping is advancing west of the Verkhnyaya Tersa River and the T0408 highway running along it, connecting Novomykolaivka with Omelnyk and Orikhiv. The nearest targets in this section of the front are Obshche, Volnyanka, Vasylevske, Novorozovka, Novotroitske, and Yasna Polyana. Their liberation will make it possible to secure the rear and flanks of the grouping advancing directly on Orikhiv — the main defense node of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporizhzhia region,” he noted.

Military correspondent Poddubny also reported that the importance of liberating the settlement of Chervonyi Yar is due to its operational significance. He explained that control over it reduces the threat of flanking strikes against units of the Russian Armed Forces that are advancing from Omelnyk in the direction of Orikhiv.

Platoon commander with the call sign Troha told details of the liberation of Tymoshivka in the Zaporizhzhia region. According to the fighter, the main difficulty was the six-kilometer “open field” in front of the settlement. The assault troops managed to cross it thanks to the rain, which interfered with the flight of Ukrainian UAVs. As a result, Russian servicemen cleared the strongpoint that was located in front of the village of Tymoshivka.

“We entered quietly, without noise. They weren’t even expecting us. They were just sitting there drinking tea,” the commander emphasized.

According to information from the Russian defense ministry, the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the zone of responsibility of the “East” grouping amounted to over 1,380 militants, 22 armored vehicles, 38 vehicles, and 2 field artillery guns.

New breakthrough toward Zaporizhzhia

Servicemen of the “Dnieper” grouping of forces over the past week took control of the settlements of Malokaterinovka and Yulievka in the Zaporizhzhia region. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Military correspondent Kots noted that Yulievka is located on the right bank of the Konka River, four kilometers east of Veselyanka, whose liberation was reported on March 3. From here to the southern outskirts of the city of Zaporizhzhia it is about 15 kilometers in a straight line, he added.

“At the same time, the offensive on the city is proceeding further west — from the side of the previously liberated Malokaterinovka. An assault on the regional center in the near future is unlikely. Most likely, the ‘Dnieper’ grouping will cut it off from Orikhiv with strikes on the T0803 highway,” the military correspondent suggested.

The Ministry of Defense added that in the zone of responsibility of the “Dnieper” grouping up to 215 Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, 4 armored vehicles, 127 vehicles, 1 artillery gun, and 8 electronic warfare stations were destroyed.

One step from the key agglomeration

Last week, units of the “South” grouping of forces improved their position along the front line and liberated the settlement of Alekseyevo-Druzhkivka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.

Military correspondent Kots noted that this settlement is located on the N20 highway, which runs along the Kryvyi Torets River, 4 kilometers southeast of Druzhkivka.

“The liberation of the latter opens the way to the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration from the south. The ‘southerners’ still need to take Kondratovka. At the same time, units of ‘Center’ are advancing toward Druzhkivka from the southwest from Toretske and Petrovka,” he explained.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, in total in the zone of responsibility of the “South” grouping of forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost more than 1,275 militants, 16 armored vehicles, 221 vehicles, 10 field artillery guns, and 3 electronic warfare stations.

Elimination of encircled militants in the Kharkiv region completed

The Ministry of Defense stated that units of the “North” grouping of forces completed the elimination of encircled militants in the northeastern part of the Kharkiv region. In addition, Russian troops continue the elimination of isolated groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“Over the week, in the zone of responsibility of the ‘North’ grouping of forces, the enemy lost more than 1,505 servicemen, 7 armored combat vehicles, 124 vehicles, 2 field artillery guns, and 10 electronic warfare stations,” the defense ministry’s statement said.