Russian and Ukrainian ground operations in Donbas and adjacent fronts, including Siversk, Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad, Huliaipole, Kupiansk, and related tactical drone/artillery actions

The grinding, attritional warfare across Donbas and adjacent fronts continues to define the brutal early 2026 campaign, with Ukrainian forces maintaining pressure on Russian formations through incisive counterattacks, encirclement operations, and tactical innovations. Recent developments underscore a growing operational strain on Russian troops, particularly around Kupiansk and northern Svyatohirsk, where Ukrainian advances have precipitated notable breakthroughs and capitulation among encircled Russian units.

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Intensified Encirclement and Surrenders Around Kupiansk

One of the most consequential recent developments has been the escalation of encirclement pressure on Russian forces in and around Kupiansk. After months of steadily tightening Ukrainian ring-fencing operations, multiple Russian units now find themselves effectively trapped in shrinking pockets within the city and its outskirts.

• Bitter fighting and clearing operations have pushed Russian troops into increasingly confined zones, limiting their resupply and maneuver capabilities.
• Video evidence from the frontline shows Russian soldiers beginning to surrender, a significant psychological and operational blow to Moscow’s forces.
• The phrase “Heads of the generals will fly” has emerged among Ukrainian ranks, reflecting Kyiv’s expectation of accountability for battlefield failures leading to these losses.
• Reports suggest that roughly 3,000 Russian troops are encircled, with one brigade described as “wiped off the map” during the retreat.
• Ukrainian forces are systematically clearing captured positions and exploiting these surrenders to consolidate gains and prepare for follow-on operations.

This situation marks one of the most severe setbacks for Russian forces in the eastern theater since the onset of the campaign, highlighting the effectiveness of Ukraine’s encirclement tactics and operational patience.

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Major Breakthrough North of Svyatohirsk Bolsters Counteroffensive

Further north, Ukrainian forces have achieved a major breakthrough north of Svyatohirsk, signifying a shift from predominantly defensive to more aggressive maneuvers in the region:

• This breakthrough was accompanied by rapid advances deep into Russian-held territory, disrupting Moscow’s frontline cohesion.
• Ukrainian units exploited terrain advantages and weakened Russian defensive lines, enabling the exploitation of gaps with mechanized and infantry formations.
• The breakthrough provides a springboard for further counteroffensives, potentially linking up with operations around Kupiansk to widen the encirclement and pressure on Russian rear areas.
• This development also supports Ukrainian efforts to relieve pressure on other contested sectors by forcing Russian commanders to redistribute forces and resources.

The success north of Svyatohirsk exemplifies Ukraine’s growing operational flexibility and ability to capitalize on Russian vulnerabilities, particularly in logistics and command coordination.

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Sustained Ukrainian Tactical Innovations Degrade Russian Capabilities

Ukrainian forces continue to refine and apply tactical innovations that have proven critical in shaping the battlefield dynamic across Donbas and adjacent fronts:

• The transformation of a Russian pipeline corridor near Kupiansk into a fortified kill zone remains a pivotal element in disrupting Russian logistics. This zone is heavily mined, covered by artillery kill boxes, and monitored by FPV drones, creating a lethal chokepoint that significantly hampers Russian resupply efforts.
• Ukrainian artillery units have conducted precision interdiction strikes on Russian convoys, including a recent high-profile attack on a convoy en route to Pokrovsk, causing substantial materiel losses and delaying frontline reinforcements.
• The use of First-Person View (FPV) and tactical drones has expanded, enabling effective reconnaissance and targeted strikes against Russian artillery systems such as Grad MLRS batteries, command posts, and UAV facilities.
• Notably, a large-scale drone strike targeted a Russian Shahed UAV storage and launch-preparation facility at Donetsk airport, severely degrading Russian aerial ISR and strike capabilities. Additional drone attacks on UAV training centers further erode Russian drone operational readiness.
• These innovations have compounded Russian command and control difficulties, exacerbated by the capture of Ukrainian command posts with sensitive materials and ongoing investigations into command failures on the Ukrainian side, reflecting a strict accountability regime within Kyiv’s forces.

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Russian Logistics and Command Vulnerabilities Deepen

The cumulative effect of Ukrainian pressure on Russian logistics and command structures is increasingly apparent:

• The pipeline kill zone near Kupiansk effectively disrupts Russian supply corridors, forcing Moscow to attempt riskier, less efficient resupply routes.
• Frequent artillery and drone strikes on ammunition depots and convoys cause materiel shortages and degrade frontline combat endurance.
• The loss of command posts in Huliaipole and Siversk, including the seizure of laptops and classified equipment, has impaired Russian operational command and intelligence-sharing.
• Russian forces also face challenges in maintaining UAV infrastructure due to persistent Ukrainian drone attacks, undermining aerial reconnaissance essential for targeting and situational awareness.
• Meanwhile, Ukrainian command practices emphasize strict discipline and accountability, with legal proceedings underway against officers responsible for tactical or reporting failures, reinforcing operational integrity under high-intensity combat conditions.

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Current Frontline Status and Outlook

• Kupiansk remains the scene of intense clearing operations as Ukrainian forces tighten their grip on encircled Russian units, with surrenders and battlefield losses mounting for Moscow.
• The breakthrough north of Svyatohirsk offers opportunities for further Ukrainian advances, potentially enabling link-ups that could widen encirclement perimeters.
• Fighting in Siversk, Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad, Huliaipole, and Vovchansk continues with localized withdrawals and counterattacks, maintaining a fluid but attritional conflict environment.
• Ukrainian forces appear poised to maintain operational tempo and pressure, leveraging tactical innovations—such as the pipeline kill zone and drone warfare—to exploit Russian weaknesses.
• No decisive, front-wide breakthroughs have yet emerged, but the accumulation of incremental gains and operational strain on Russian formations signals a shifting battlefield balance.
• Both sides continue to pay a heavy toll in urban combat and maneuver warfare, with command discipline, multi-domain coordination, and adaptability proving decisive in this grinding conflict.

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Conclusion

The early months of 2026 in Donbas and adjacent fronts reveal a war of attrition increasingly shaped by Ukrainian tactical ingenuity and Russian operational vulnerabilities. Encirclement and surrender of Russian units around Kupiansk represent a critical turning point, while breakthroughs north of Svyatohirsk demonstrate Ukraine’s growing ability to seize the initiative. Coupled with sustained drone and artillery campaigns, these developments foreshadow a protracted struggle where battlefield adaptability, logistical resilience, and command accountability will determine the conflict’s trajectory. Ukrainian forces are positioned to preserve momentum, applying continuous localized pressure with the potential to incrementally shift frontlines and impose mounting costs on Russian formations.