Battlefield Update — 13 August 2025: The Salient at Dobropillia and a Front at Full Stretch

Executive summary

As of 13 August 2025, the most dangerous development is a Russian push in the Dobropillia–Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast. Russian reconnaissance-sabotage groups and assault detachments have exploited seams between Ukrainian brigades and have driven a narrow wedge several kilometres deep toward the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk road, threatening the logistics that sustain Ukrainian positions shielding Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, Kostiantynivka and, in the second echelon, Kramatorsk–Sloviansk. Kyiv has rushed elite reserves to stabilise the axis. Elsewhere the line remains attritional but active: persistent pressure north of Kharkiv; grind around Chasiv Yar; probing east of Hulyaipole in Zaporizhzhia; and reciprocal raids and fires across the Dnipro in Kherson. The air and strike war intensifies on both sides. 

Donetsk: the Dobropillia–Pokrovsk emergency

Open-source mapping and Ukrainian field reports indicate a deep, narrow Russian penetration (c. 10–15 km; 5–6 km wide) achieved over 7–12 August, aimed along the Dobropillia axis. The move threatens to unhinge the Pokrovsk defensive group from the north-east and to push tube artillery within easier range of Pokrovsk itself. Ukrainian command acknowledges “effective measures” are under way to blunt infiltration and seal the shoulders of the wedge; Azov National Guard elements have taken designated positions on this front. 

Ukrainian and independent outlets frame the breach as an operational bid to gain leverage ahead of high-level diplomacy, and warn that further gains could complicate the defence of Kostiantynivka by opening a flanking approach via secondary roads. Kyiv’s evening summaries list heavy combat in a belt of villages north-east and east of Pokrovsk (e.g. Poltavka, Nikanorivka, Udachne, Rodynske), consistent with Russian attempts to widen the salient. 

President Zelensky has publicly rejected talk of territorial “swaps” linked to ceasefire ideas, arguing any land ceded in Donbas becomes a springboard for the next war. The political backdrop matters because Moscow appears to be using limited, rapid advances near Dobropillia to alter negotiating psychology ahead of the mooted Trump–Putin summit this Friday. 

Risk assessment (next 2–3 weeks):

• If Ukraine seals the flanks and stabilises on inter-village strongpoints, the salient becomes costly to hold for Russia.

  
  

• If Russia can push another 5–10 km and interdict the approaches to Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk from Dobropillia, Pokrovsk comes under sustained operational pressure and Kostiantynivka faces a renewed threat from the south-east. 

Bakhmut–Chasiv Yar: pressure without breakout

Around Chasiv Yar, Russian forces continue assaults from the canal line and northern woodland belts, attempting to corrode Ukrainian companies and inch into the urban micro-districts. Independent daily assessments note frequent attacks but no confirmed operational advance the past week. The sector remains a kill-box of artillery, FPV drones and electronic warfare (EW). 

Kharkiv axis: Vovchansk to Kupiansk, a grinding northern front

North-east of Kharkiv, Russia maintains pressure around Vovchansk and along the Synkivka–Kupiansk approaches, using Lancet/“Geran-2” strikes against rail and depots to harass Ukrainian logistics. Daily contact is reported, but with limited ground movement this week. Ukrainian counter-actions in forest belts have contained several tactical pushes. 

Zaporizhzhia: east of Hulyaipole and the approach to Tokmak

In eastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian units probe around Poltavka, Olhivske, Malynivka and adjacent hamlets to gain firing positions and dislodge Ukrainian platoon strongpoints. Recent independent assessments record attacks without confirmed advances; the fight remains artillery- and drone-centred, with Russian GRU-linked operators active on this line. 

Kherson / Lower Dnipro: fires, raids and island games

Across the Dnipro delta and island zone, both sides sustain artillery and small-boat raids. Russian troops seek footholds on mid-stream islands to improve observation and mortar positions; Ukrainian Southern Command reports continuing Russian attempts to entrench, but no decisive crossings to the right bank. Humanitarian conditions in Kherson city worsen under daily shelling; local authorities say the much-trailed Russian push to seize a right-bank village before talks has not materialised. 

The strike war: deep blows and dense air activity

Kyiv has intensified long-range drone and special-service strikes on Russia’s war economy, including reported hits on a helium facility used for rocket production and another Shahed storage site in the past 72 hours. Russia answers with mass Shahed and missile volleys against Dnipro, Nikopol and key Donetsk-front cities; the pace of attacks has increased despite public talk of a ceasefire “deadline.” 

Force posture and politics

Ukrainian commanders have surged experienced formations to the Pokrovsk front while trying to avoid exposing other sectors. Informal canvassing of troops underscores scepticism that diplomacy will quickly end the war and broad rejection of territorial concessions—sentiments that stiffen defence but complicate any pause under fire. 

Outlook

1. Dobropillia–Pokrovsk is the acute risk. Watch whether Ukraine can lock the shoulders of the salient and re-establish lateral logistics; if not, expect intensified pressure on Pokrovsk and the Kostiantynivka axis.

2. Chasiv Yar likely stays a high-casualty grind without decisive movement barring a surprise collapse. 

   
   

3. Kharkiv / Kupiansk remains active harassment aimed at fixing Ukrainian brigades in the north. 

   
   

4. Zaporizhzhia sees persistent probing for fire control; no operational breakthrough evident.

   
   

5. Lower Dnipro: raids and fires will continue; large-scale crossings remain unlikely in the immediate term. 

   
   

6. The air/strike duel is escalating—Ukraine’s deep strikes aim at leverage; Russia’s at terror, pressure and logistics. 

In sum: the front is broadly static except for the Dobropillia wedge, where events over the next days may decide whether this is a fleeting tactical rupture or the start of an operational realignment in southern Donbas. Ukraine is brave and busy, moving reserves and guns to prevent the latter. The coming fortnight will show whether that is enough.