Heavy fighting across the front: 59 clashes reported over last 16 hours

There is no sign of fighting let-up, with Ukraine’s General Staff reporting 59 combat clashes on Friday.

On the Kharkiv front, Russian forces have launched a major assault near Vovchansk, with intense battles continuing in the area.

In Kupiansk, Ukrainian troops are engaged in ongoing clashes near Tabaivka. Meanwhile, the Lyman front has seen Russian attacks on positions near Makiyivka, Nevske, and the Serebryansky Forest. Of the seven assaults, six have been repelled, with one still ongoing.

The Severodonetsk area has experienced nine engagements today. Russian forces have targeted Bilohorivka, Verkhnekamyans’ke, Spirne, and Vyimka. Ukrainian defenders have repelled eight attacks, with ongoing fighting near Verkhnekamyans’ke.

In Kramatorsk, Russian troops have carried out five assaults near Chasiv Yar and Stupochky, with one clash still ongoing. The Toretsk region has faced increased attacks, with 12 engagements reported. Ukrainian forces have repelled ten assaults, with two continuing.

Russian forces have intensified their air campaign, conducting eight strikes and dropping 16 KAB bombs on Kostiantynivka and Toretsk.

In Pokrovsk, Russian troops have launched assaults on Vozdvizhivka, Novooleksandrivka, Zhelanne, Zelenepole, and Yasnobrodovka. Ukrainian forces have repelled 12 attacks, with seven still ongoing. Five Russian airstrikes have also targeted Hrodivka and Oleksandropl.

The Kurakhove area has seen three assaults near Paraskoviivka and Kostiantynivka, with one clash ongoing. In Vremivka, Russian forces have used airstrikes and continue to assault positions near Vuhledar and Vodiane.

On the Orikhiv front, Russian advances near Mala Tokmachka have been repelled by Ukrainian forces.

No changes were reported on other fronts.

Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.

The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.

In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.

Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.

Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.