Heavy combat continues in eastern Ukraine as drone strikes hit civilian areas

Ukrainian forces faced over 250 combat clashes across the front line over a 24-hour period, with particularly intense fighting reported in the Lyman, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk sectors. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, defensive units repulsed dozens of Russian assault attempts around several key settlements.

North of Kupiansk, Ukrainian infantry conducted clearing operations along the Oskil River following targeted efforts to suppress Russian drone operations. Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed to have captured several settlements near Sumy, and Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov denied reports of Ukrainian advances in Zaporizhzhia.

Aerial attacks also escalated as Russian forces deployed 138 drones overnight. Local officials confirmed civilian deaths in Kyiv Oblast, where a mother and two children were killed, and in Kherson Oblast, where a priest died in a drone attack on a monastery.

Sources: NV, Point, Радіо Свобода, The Insider, Українська правда.