1st and 3rd Corps have been assigned the mission of holding Slovyansk and Kramatorsk against the expected Russian offensive. Both commanders are self-made generals – Denys Prokopenko (1st Azov Corps) and Andriy Biletsky (3rd Army Corps) – who rose through Azov’s ranks; in other words, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) put its first team and best players into the Donetsk region.
These are two of the AFU’s hardest-fighting corps – although, to be fair, probably the 30th Marine and 7th and 8th Airborne Assault Corps are to that level. The presence of USF brass at the outset of the planning makes crystal clear the Ukrainian intent: when Russia launches its big offensive, probably after the fall wet season, the most effective Drone Wall buzz saw will be in place to meet it. Three months is a long time to let Ukrainians prepare…
Ukrainian drones attacked targets across Russia overnight, hitting residential buildings near Moscow and a seaport in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russian officials and monitoring channels reported.
In Kubinka, about 60 kilometers west of Moscow, a drone attack caused a fire on the eighth and ninth floors of an apartment building, Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said. Ten people were evacuated. He said there were no casualties.
Kubinka is home to a major Russian military airfield used by the country’s Russian Knights and Swifts military aerobatic teams. The town is also located near Patriot Park, a large Russian military-themed complex.
