🇺🇦Ukrainian reinforcements deploy to the “fortress cities” As the final battles for Donbas seem to be looming on the horizon, the new 🇺🇦command team led by Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi might be drastically restructuring the frontline in the region. Following Syrskyi’s replacement in the summer, a decision was made to split the area of operations in Donetsk oblast between two new force groupings: 🔵 UV Center, under Brig. Gen. Biletskyi, in charge of the sector between Borova (Kharkiv oblast) and Druzhkivka 🔵UV Azov, under Brig. Gen. Prokopenko, in charge of the sector between Druzhkivka and Novopavlivka (Dnipropetrovsk oblast) The defense of Donbas, and more specifically of its fortress belt, now rests on these two command bodies. UV Center is entrusted with the larger cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, while UV Azov guards its right flank on the Pokrovsk-Dobropillya axis of advance. The crucial importance this sector holds was highlighted in August 2025, when Russian forces attempted to break through northeast of Dobropillya. Their maximalist objective was the city of Barvinkove, a key logistical hub for the defense of the fortress cities. The Main Supply Routes (MSRs) connecting Dnipro to Kramatorsk, Slovyansk and Izyum all pass through Barvinkove. For the Ukrainians, the loss of Barvinkove would put the fortress belt at risk of encirclement. For the Russians, occupying the fortress belt would complete the capture of Donbas.

This Sunday evening, Tochnyi will be live to discuss Russia’s 🇷🇺 perception of the “Kill Zone.” The discussion will feature Erlend (@edrotning), Joseph (@JThomason88), Stanimir (@delfoo), GAU (@deaidua), and Colby Badhwar (@ColbyBadhwar). We’re also pleased to welcome Rob Lee (@RALee85) to this week’s talk. Join us Sunday at 20:00 Berlin time, 21:00 Kyiv time, and 14:00 New York time. 🔗Watch the livestream on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/live/31GLq0pGO0k

Updated the Ozon infographic. Added the St Petersburg Petro-Slavyanka warehouse to it. The facility is listed as 79 000 square meters but only 51 000 are the warehouse that was built and it was also a built to rent deal with the operator of the logistics park.

This Sunday evening, Tochnyi will be live to discuss Russia’s 🇷🇺 perception of the “Kill Zone.” The discussion will feature Erlend (@edrotning), Joseph (@JThomason88), Stanimir (@delfoo), GAU (@deaidua), and Colby Badhwar (@ColbyBadhwar). We’re also pleased to welcome Rob Lee (@RALee85) to this week’s talk. Join us Sunday at 20:00 Berlin time, 21:00 Kyiv time, and 14:00 New York time. 🔗Watch the livestream on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/live/31GLq0pGO0k

Kherson Weekly: 05-11 October 2026 This Week: 39 Civilian Casualties from Russian Aggression — 4 Killed, 35 Wounded Civilian casualties continue to be recorded at relatively low levels this week, keeping with the emerging pattern of the past three weeks. Drones still make up the vast majority of civilian casualties, with 2 killed and 25 wounded this week in Kherson Oblast. There was slight increase in Russian drone attacks — roughly 400 more than the previous week, but Ukrainian C-UAS operations managed to intercepted around 93% of attacks/UAVs. While Ukrainian heavy quadcopter and hexacopter teams continue their humanitarian airlift in Oleshky, another airlift is being conducted by the 11th National Guard Brigade's “Bolharychi” UAV detachment in the liberated city of Beryslav. Beryslav has been almost unreachable for local volunteers since Winter 2026 and with 300 people still in the city, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated. Using heavy multi-rotor UAVs, over 2500 kilos of humanitarian aid were successfully delivered to the city by the 11th Brigade over the course of 08-10 October. Humanitarian airlift missions are still being conducted in Beryslav as of writing. For a more detailed look, head to the link to access this week's full OSINT-survey in the reply below ⏬

Russia once kept Central Asia supplied with fuel. Now it’s struggling to keep its own planes in the air. In the latest #RUSICommentary, Stanimir Dobrev (@delfoo) looks at how Ukraine’s drone strikes on refineries have created a kerosene shortage, straining Moscow’s finances and its regional ties. rusi.org/explore-our-researc…