Ukrainian assault troops pushed back the Russians in the Dobropil sector
Defense forces conducted a joint operation near Hruzke and Novomykolaivka in the Dobropillia sector. According to the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelya,” Ukrainian troops cleared dozens of Russian positions and pushed back the occupiers. “Skelya” stated that this thwarted the Russian troops’ plans to advance further toward Dobropillia.
The operation was carried out jointly by units of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelya” and the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov.” Fighting took place in the area of the settlements of Hruzke and Novomykolaivka in the Dobropillia sector.
Several units participated in the combat operations. Among them were the “Shkval” battalion of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment, the 1st and 6th battalions of the 12th “Azov” Special Purpose Brigade, the “Ultima Ratio” Special Forces Unit, and the “Tuman” Special Forces Unit. Fire support and other assistance were provided by servicemen of the “Lasar’s Group” Special Forces Unit of the National Guard of Ukraine. This was reported by the 425th “Skelya” Regiment.
The Russians were building up their forces
According to “Skelya,” Russian troops had been building up forces in the area for some time. Their goal, as noted by the Ukrainian military, was to gain access to logistical routes.
The Russians also sought to create conditions for a potential encirclement of Druzhkivka and to continue their advance toward Dobropillia. Earlier, the “Azov” unit also reported that Russian units had been massing in the Hruzka area throughout the summer. Ukrainian forces conducted an operation to prevent them from using this area for further advancement.
According to the Ukrainian military, units of the Russian 8th Combined Arms Army and the 90th Tank Division were being deployed to the area. The Ukrainian side viewed this as preparation for further actions toward Druzhkivka and Dobropillia.
Assault teams cleared the positions
During the operation, Ukrainian assault groups advanced on Russian troop positions and began clearing them out. According to “Skelya,” this involved dozens of enemy positions in the Hruzke and Novomykolaivka areas. Separately, the regiment reported on fighters from the “Shkval” battalion. According to their data, during the firefights, the soldiers killed more than 40 Russian troops. This figure comes specifically from the Ukrainian unit, so it is currently impossible to independently verify it.
As a result of the joint operations, according to “Skelya,” Russian units suffered losses, and their further advance toward Dobropillya was halted. Ukrainian military officials also stated that the Russians will now have to seek other options for advancing in this area.
The operation lasted more than one day
This was not a single, brief attack. Earlier, “Azov” reported that the operation to eliminate enemy forces in this area began as early as the beginning of August. According to Ukrainian sources, the first assault groups were deployed on August 7. The units operated together, with fire support provided by drones and artillery. At the same time, Ukrainian forces attempted to destroy Russian artillery systems.
In September, Azov had already reported that as a result of this operation, Russian forces lost 237 soldiers killed, another 44 wounded, and three Russian soldiers were taken prisoner. These figures are also estimates provided by the Ukrainian side.
The operation marked the first joint effort between “Azov” and “Skela” following the 425th Regiment’s transfer to the operational command of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov.” Ukrainian military officials previously described this experience as successful and highlighted the coordination between the units.
What the fighters said
Footage of the operation and the work of the “Skelya” assault groups was shown in a video. In the footage, the soldiers talk about carrying out their mission, their prolonged stay at their positions, and battles with Russian troops. Fighters from the “Shkval” battalion shared their recollections. They described how they had to hold their positions and operate directly in the heat of battle.
The situation was also commented on by the commander of the 425th Regiment, Dmytro “Vodoliy”; the commander of the “Shkval” battalion, Serhiy “Zamok”; and the company commander of the “Kratos” battalion. “Skela” emphasizes that the main outcome of the operation was not merely the destruction of Russian troops and positions. Ukrainian units sought to prevent the Russians from reaching key logistical routes and to stop them from advancing toward Dobropillia.
Earlier, the Ukrainian military had already stated that Dobropillya remains under the control of the Defense Forces, while Russian assault groups are attempting to advance toward the city in small groups. This was reported by the 425th “Skelya” Regiment.
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