The armed forces of Ukraine are advancing in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and recapturing the settlements previously captured by the Russians.
This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The situation in Kharkiv and Luhansk regions
On June 26, Russian troops launched limited ground attacks northwest of Svatovo and south of Kreminnaya. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Stelmakhivka, Kryvoshiivka, Rozdolivka, Vesely.
Russian bloggers claimed that Russian troops tried to advance to Berestovo and carried out attacks near Kreminnaya.
Fighting in Donetsk region
The commander of the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that Ukrainian forces cleared the Russian bridgehead across the Siverskyi-Donets Donbas channel in the direction of Bakhmut, possibly referring to the area southwest of Bakhmut.
Official footage released on June 26 shows Ukrainian troops attacking the positions of the 3rd Battalion of the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (5th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District) in the Bakhmut direction while Russian forces retreat.
Russian military bloggers claim that Ukrainian forces have advanced in the area of Klishchiivka and Kurdyumivka. On June 25, the spokesman of the Eastern Group of the Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, said that Ukrainian forces advanced 600-1000 meters in the direction of Bakhmut.
The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Mynkivka (13 km northwest of Bakhmut), Hryhorivka (10 km northwest of Bakhmut) and Bohdanivka (5 km northwest of Bakhmut).
A Russian military blogger claimed that Russian troops launched unsuccessful attacks near Ivanovsky (6 km west of Bakhmut).
Cherevaty said that Russian troops are moving airborne troops, infantry, BARS (Combat Reserve of Russia), territorial troops, Storm-Z units, units of private military companies Patriot, Torch and Veterans to Bakhmut in an attempt to maintain control over the city
Geolocation footage released on June 25 shows that Russian forces have recently made limited progress in Mariintka. The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Pervomaiskyi, Maryinka, and Novomykhailivka.
"Southern Axis"
Ukrainian and Russian forces continued fighting near the administrative border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, and Ukrainian forces made progress as of June 26.
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar, other Ukrainian officials and geolocation videos confirmed that Ukrainian forces captured Rivnopil on June 26.
Russian sources acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had entered Rivopol, but claimed that Russian forces were still holding positions in part of the settlement.
Russian military bloggers claimed that Ukrainian troops also attacked along the line Levadne-Rivnopil-Makarivka, Priyutne-Staromerske and near Novodonetsk.
The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Novodarivka in order to recapture positions in the area. Russian military bloggers claimed that the Russian 60th Infantry Brigade or part of the 136th Infantry Brigade was operating in the Makarivka area.
Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued limited ground attacks in western Zaporizhzhya Oblast on June 26. Some Russian bloggers have indicated that Pyatikhatki is disputed and that Russian artillery fire is preventing Ukrainian forces from returning to the settlement, but ISW cannot confirm these claims.
Geolocation footage confirmed that as of June 26, Ukrainian forces are holding positions near the Antoniv bridge on the eastern (left) bank of the Kherson region.
Geolocation footage released on June 25 shows Russian forces shelling Ukrainian positions near the Antoniv bridge, as well as Russian infantry retreating from the bridge.
A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces control the summer cottage area near Oleshok and that the coastline near Hola Prystan is a disputed area.
Some Russian sources claimed that their forces were trying to push Ukrainian forces away from the river bank, but the Ukrainians were entrenched in their positions near the Antonivsky Bridge.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, visited the advanced positions of the Ukrainian military and noted the progress in all directions on Monday, June 26.
