Ukraine Conflict: Full Frontline Update
Table of Contents 📖
"It is arguably more important than Avdiivka and Bakhmut."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:32⏩
Jonathan welcomes viewers to the daily frontline update, reminding everyone to check the map key for clarification. He gives a shout out to JR for their assistance with the mapping.
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📍 FRONT-LINE UPDATE -🗺️ MAP LEGEND

Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna axis: Increased Russian troop concentration and advances
🎦 00:32-05:16⏩
Jonathan highlights increased Russian troop concentration along the Kupyansk-Lyman axis since the summer, quoting Ukrainian Commander Syrsky.
- Heavy fighting reported, with Russian losses at Sinkivka.
- Russian troops attempting to push Ukrainian defenders back near the Zherebets River and Serebryansky Forest.
- Russian advances, but no Ukrainian ones according to Jonathan's sources.
- Russian success southwest of Pershotravneve, east of Petropavlivka.
- Confirmation of Russian advance south of Pozhyotravneve (geolocated footage).
- Sienkivka attacks ongoing but less intense.
- Russians pushing south in the Serebryansky Forest, corroborated by Syriac Maps and Global War Monitor, northwest of Kreminna.
- Geolocated footage shows marginal Russian advance southeast of Dibrova. Jonathan expresses caution in interpreting this as control, suggesting it may be attack and pullback tactics or a grey zone. He also notes that Andrew Perpetua hasn't updated his map to reflect this despite likely seeing the footage.
Svatove-Kreminna axis: Russian advances near Sperna
🎦 05:16-06:10⏩
- Significant activity reported around Sperna.
- Andriy Perpetua's map shows an increase in Russian-controlled territory, aligning with a recent Syriac Maps post.
- The ISW highlights Veseli and Sperna as areas of activity.
Bakhmut: Russian advances north and south
🎦 06:10-07:50⏩
- Syriac Maps shows Russian gains in the Bohdanivka area.
- DeepStateMap shows gains northwest of Klimovo.
- Russian milbloggers claim the capture of a Ukrainian stronghold north of Klimovo and Ukrainian forces being pushed back to Khrushchovka, although this hasn't been reflected on the maps used by Jonathan.
- Russian advance along the highway northeast of Klimovo.
- Russian milblogger claims of being within 100m of Bohdanivka and advances towards Ivaniske and Klishchiivka.
- Syriac Maps confirms pressure on Bohdanivka.
- Klishchiivka reportedly under pressure, but no confirmation of Russian control over the overlooking trench network. Jonathan speculates that this would mean the end of Ukrainian presence in Klishchiivka.
- Russians making small gains south of Bakhmut.
Donetsk Oblast: Fighting over spoil tips near Huliaipole
🎦 07:50-10:41⏩
- Before discussing Avdiivka, Jonathan highlights activity around Huliaipole, focusing on the strategic significance of the large spoil tips (tailings heaps) in the area.
- He shows footage of Ukrainian forces raising the flag on one of the spoil tips, accompanied by Zelensky's claim of recapturing it.
- However, both maps show the area as contested rather than fully under Ukrainian control.
Avdiivka: Increased Russian attacks, small gains, and debate over their culmination
🎦 10:41-14:06⏩
- Significant increase in Russian offensive operations near Avdiivka and Marinka.
- Ukrainian sources report repelling numerous Russian attacks.
- Debate over whether Russian forces are culminating in the area. Jonathan remains unconvinced despite reports from people on the ground.
- Syriac Maps reports a Russian advance west of the quarry southeast of Avdiivka but notes Ukrainian resistance.
- Geolocated footage confirms fighting south-east of the slag heap, with Russian gains.
- The frontline remains stable around Stepove.
- DeepStateMap shows small Russian gains in the industrial area and quarry near Avdiivka.
- Syriac Maps indicates pressure on Ukrainians in the forest area south of Avdiivka.
- Jonathan describes a slow, grinding Russian advance that may force an operational Ukrainian withdrawal unless they can launch a counterattack. He believes Ukraine wants to hold Avdiivka due to its artillery advantage over Donetsk.
Donetsk Oblast: Fighting in Marinka and the significance of Novomykhailivka
🎦 14:06-22:24⏩
- Syriac Maps shows Russian gains in Marinka, pushing towards Pobieda.
- Jonathan highlights the strategic importance of Pobieda in preventing a Russian flanking maneuver on Marinka.
- He notes that with Marinka largely under Russian control, according to Syriac Maps, its strategic value is diminishing.
- Conflicting reports on the level of Russian control, with some sources saying they control all but 3% of Marinka.
- Jonathan discusses the extrinsic value of holding Marinka - to avoid fighting in the more strategically important areas behind it. He believes Ukraine wants to hold the line here to protect logistics, reservoirs, and water supplies, which would be compromised if the Russians were to push through.
- He transitions to Novomykhailivka, emphasizing its importance as a buffer for Kostyantynivka, which sits on a strategically important road connecting to Vuhledar.
- He references Andrew Perpetua's video that highlights the significance of Kostyantynivka, particularly its connection to Vuhledar.
- He explains how the Russians have struggled to attack Vuhledar directly from Pavlivka due to uphill terrain and strong Ukrainian defenses.
- He suggests the Russians are trying to approach Vuhledar from the Kostyantynivka direction to avoid these defenses, making Novomykhailivka a key objective.
- Jonathan highlights the importance of Vuhledar in allowing Ukrainian forces to target Mariupol with HIMARS.
- Pushing the Ukrainians back 5km north would take Mariupol out of HIMARS range and allow safe use of the roads along the Azov Sea.
- Jonathan reiterates the strategic importance of the Novomykhailivka-Kostyantynivka-Vuhledar line in preventing a deeper Russian advance and protecting Ukrainian artillery operations.
- He expresses concern that the Russians are having success in the Novomykhailivka area and questions whether Ukraine will commit reserves to defend it.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast: Russian claims near Robotyne and Novopropovka
🎦 22:24-23:05⏩
- Russian milbloggers claim to have recaptured positions near Novodanylivka and an unspecified forest in western Zaporizhzhia. These claims haven't been confirmed by the ISW and might relate to previously reported gains.
- Rumors of renewed Russian success around Novopropylivka, north of Robotyne.
Dnipro River: Ukrainian bridgehead at Krynky and the use of river mines
🎦 23:05-30:10⏩
- No significant changes reflected on the maps along the Dnipro River, but Jonathan notes several points of interest.
- Russian milbloggers claim Ukrainian forces are consolidating positions south of Krynky and have transported personnel to the east bank.
- Claims of a marginal Russian advance in Krynky, which Jonathan suggests is unsurprising given the presence of a grey zone where both sides operate. He reminds viewers that the Ukrainian defensive line is on the northern outskirts of Krynky.
- A Russian milblogger claims Ukrainian forces are maintaining positions near the Antonivsky Bridge, but the area is calm.
- Euromidan Press reports Ukraine capturing Velykyi Potemkin Island, but Jonathan clarifies that this was already under Ukrainian control according to the ISW, who only noted the expansion of Ukrainian control.
- He acknowledges the presence of Ukrainian forces on the island.
- Returning to Krynky, Jonathan discusses the high volume of lost Russian equipment in the area, similar to Vuhledar, with drone footage showing destroyed vehicles along the forest roads.
- He mentions the destruction of Ukrainian boats by Russian drones, noting that this appears to contradict the general consensus that Ukraine has an electronic warfare and drone advantage. He posits that it only takes a small gap in Ukrainian EW coverage for Russian drones to succeed, but suggests an alternative explanation for the destroyed boats:
- The Russians are using FPV drones to deploy maritime mines in the Dnipro River and its tributaries.
- This tactic explains how the Russians can target boats without needing air superiority – they simply drop the mines into the water, where they float downstream.
- Jonathan concludes that the use of river mines will complicate Ukrainian efforts to maintain the bridgehead at Krynky.
Wrap up
🎦 30:10-30:44⏩
- Jonathan summarizes the day's fighting as another challenging one for the Ukrainians.
- He emphasizes the importance of attrition rates and the political situation regarding military aid, which he believes will dictate the course of the war in the coming months.
- He signs off by thanking viewers and asking them to like, subscribe, and share.