The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian forces have taken control of the Ray-Aleksandrovka settlement in the Donetsk People's Republic from Ukrainian forces. The ministry stated that advances continue in the area and that various units are conducting attacks on multiple targets.
According to the ministry's statement, Russian air defense systems shot down 992 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, four long-range cruise missiles, three HIMARS munitions, and 10 guided air bombs within one day.
It was also reported that Russia's Western group of forces secured seven fortification points and 48 buildings in the Krasny Liman direction. In the same area, Russian drones destroyed six ground robotic systems, while units from the Northern group neutralized more than 10 robotic platforms in the Kharkiv region over a week.
According to ministry data, the Ukrainian army lost 1,360 soldiers in the last 24 hours. The statement also noted the destruction of 87 military vehicles and four armored vehicles.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov inspected the Northern group, receiving briefings from commanders on the situation and progress on the ground. Belousov also congratulated the units involved in capturing Ray-Aleksandrovka.
In the Sumy region, according to information from Russian soldiers, a Su-34 fighter jet struck the Babi-Yaga drone control point with FAB-500 bombs based on coordinates provided by Northern group reconnaissance units. This attack reportedly destroyed four Ukrainian attack drone teams, at least 12 soldiers, and expensive NATO-made equipment.
The Russian side also reported that "Geran" type drones targeted an electrical transformer station in Ahitka in the same region. The ministry announced that operators of unmanned systems and artillery units from the Southern group struck two drone control points around Konstantinovka.
Attacks were also carried out on Ukrainian forces withdrawing from Konstantinovka, with Russian artillery destroying live targets at three temporary deployment points. The ministry released footage showing Russian soldiers raising flags in liberated areas after clearing operations in this region.
Throughout the week, 152-millimeter Msta-B howitzers from the Northern group targeted 10 fortifications and some drone control centers in the Sumy region, while the Southern group destroyed two drone command points near Konstantinovka. Russian forces reportedly neutralized up to 30 Ukrainian soldiers in attacks with FAB-500 bombs in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Simultaneously with the ministry's statements, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said they will regularly strike targets that sustain the Ukrainian army's combat power in response to attacks on Kyiv. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin claimed the war has disrupted plans to halt Russia's development.
Other statements about the course of the war highlighted allegations of desertion, forced mobilization, and pressure behind the front lines within the Ukrainian army. Russian sources claimed some Ukrainian deserters avoid re-enlistment by obtaining documents under the identities of deceased conscripts, and that training areas in the Kirovograd region have been mined to prevent escapes.
The Russian side argued that Europe also wants the conflict to continue, accusing the West's arms shipments of complicating the peace process. In this context, it was reported that Belgium will send seven F-16s to Ukraine this year and Sweden has allocated $108 million for U.S. arms purchases.
