Ukraine’s armored strike cuts off Russian pincer toward Velykomykhailivka

Attempts to consolidate control over the border zone between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk have drawn Russian forces into heavier fighting. Russian units hoped that recent incremental gains would allow them to push deeper and outmaneuver the Ukrainian defenses by exploiting the open terrain. However, Ukrainian troops anticipated the maneuver and reinforced critical junctions before the Russians could secure stable supply lines. The defenders used a combination of drone surveillance, artillery fire, and rapid armored response teams to disrupt infiltration attempts before they could take root. As a result, Russian advances stalled near a series of villages that serve as natural defensive anchors in the region. The struggle for control here is less about rapid breakthroughs and more about who can hold positions long enough to shape the next phase of operations.

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