June 1–7 live war map: Russian advance on Novopavlivka front, stabilization near Pokrovsk, supply lines under fire

Northern borderlands

It has been over 2 months since Russian forces have been trying to move the buffer zone from the Kursk region to the Sumy region. Over the past two weeks, they have significantly expanded their zone of control, crossing the border in several additional places and occupying 9 villages. However, in recent days, the pace of the offensive has slowed down again. The Russian Armed Forces occupied Andriivka, Loknia, and Vodolahy, but the Defense Forces managed to stop their advance on Hotin, Pysarivka, and Yunakivka. In particular, street fighting continues in Kindrativka, Oleksiivka, and Novomykolaivka. Yablunivka is preparing for defense. Russia is effectively exhausting its offensive potential and is gradually running into a pre-prepared line of defense from Yunakivka to Hotin.

Ukraine Russia war live map, May 31 - June 7, Photo: Espreso

Currently, the width of the border breakthrough is more than 25 km (in a straight line), and the depth of the incursion into Ukraine ranges from 5 to 10 km. If we compare the Sumy offensive operation with a similar one that began last year near Vovchansk, it is worth noting that the Russians managed to seize more territory in a shorter time – 180 sq km versus 150 in the Sumy region. In both cases, they ran into our defense and could not advance further, having limited resources. Therefore, the Sumy region should be considered primarily as a distracting blow from the main goals: Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka.

Therefore, Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups will try to carry out a number of border breakthroughs to create several more points of tension. For example, they entered the Oleksandriyskyi Hydrological Reserve, occupying 3.5 sq km here, and are trying to seize the village of Oleksandria, which is 5 km east of the border zone in the Kursk region, which is still held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukraine Russia war live map, May 31 - June 7, Photo: Espreso

At the same time, the Defense Forces have taken the Russian border point Tetkino into a fire ring and are methodically destroying its defenders with long-range weapons. Simultaneously, Ukrainian assault troops are trying to bypass Tetkino and are advancing in the direction of Popovo Lezhachi to carry out a de facto encirclement of the border point and level the front line.

Ukraine Russia war live map, May 31 - June 7, Photo: Espreso

To stop the offensive from the north, a series of sabotage operations have been organized on the Russian railway. The railway track was blown up in the Prokhorovsky district of the Belgorod region, the Pavlovsky district of the Voronezh region, and near Unecha in the Bryansk region. Near Zheleznogorsk in the Kursk region, someone blew up a railway bridge, and near Bryansk, another railway bridge got tired and fell on its own under the weight of a passenger train.

Russian breakthrough on Lyman front

The Lyman front continues to rank 3rd-4th in terms of the intensity of fighting. However, the Russian Armed Forces have not been able to break through to Lyman through Torske, and they are focusing their efforts on cutting our defense line between Borova and Lyman. Over the week, they managed to almost completely capture the village of Ridkodub, and also, somewhat further south, wedge into our defense by 4 km and approach the village of Karpivka. Here, they are met by a water obstacle in the form of the Nitrius River and a series of ponds on it. Therefore, it is likely that for some time the Russians will stop moving west and focus on expanding the zone of control to the north and south.

Ukraine Russia war live map, May 31 - June 7, Photo: Espreso

In particular, from the southern flank, they are trying to encircle Ukrainian defenders in the village of Zelena Dolyna, conducting their attacks between it and Kolodyazi. The capture of Zelena Dolyna will not only open the way for the invaders to Shandryholove, but also allow them to strike at the flank of those units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that stopped the advance on Lyman from the east in the area of Kolodiazi.

Further north, the invading Russian troops have been unable to completely capture Novomykhailivka for the third week and develop their offensive on Novyi Myr.

Approaches to Kostiantynivka from all sides

For over a year, the Defense Forces have been defending Chasiv Yar from occupation. During this time, the Russian army managed to occupy most of the city, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine were focused on holding the western outskirts. This week, the Russians captured over 7 sq km between Hryhorivka and Orikhovo-Vasylivka. Their last successes in this area of the front were back in January. But this time, the Russians simultaneously occupied the heights north of Chasiv Yar and established full control over the entire northern part of the city. How much longer the Defense Forces will be able to hold the city's defense remains an open question, but the Russians cannot count on a quick advance to Kostiantynivka from this flank. Therefore, they are increasing pressure on other areas in order to approach the city simultaneously and end the summer offensive campaign with street fighting.

The situation is developing similarly in Toretsk. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding the western and northern outskirts, and the Russian troops are trying to break through from the city in the direction of Kostiantynivka. In recent days, the enemy broke through 2.5 km into our defense in the area of Diliivka, finding a weak spot between Ozarianivka and Druzhba. Such an advance is extremely dangerous, as it could collapse the defense along the Siverskyi Donets – Donbas canal and allow the enemy to open another front of attack on Kostiantynivka.

Ukraine Russia war live map, May 31 - June 7, Photo: Espreso

On the right flank of the offensive, the Russians managed to occupy the gray zone between Oleksandropil and Romanivka, as well as completely occupy Zoria. Thus, they leveled the front in the south and will focus on the assault along the Pokrovsk – Kostiantynivka highway in the near future, in particular, they will strike at the flank of our defensive redoubts in Yablunivka. It is through Yablunivka and Kleban-Byk that the first main line of defense of Kostiantynivka passes, which will be tested for strength in the coming days. But so far, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have managed to significantly slow down the pace of the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces here.

It is too early to assert the complete halt of the breakthrough of the Russian forces who were moving around Pokrovsk, but for the second week in a row, the enemy has made no progress here. The Defense Forces held their positions in Malynivka and Popiv Yar. It is likely that soon the Russians will have to choose which will be the main vector of the offensive, between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, because they cannot attack two cities simultaneously.

Pace of Novopavlivka front's collapse has increased

Advancing directly on Novopavlivka, the Russians advanced another 600 meters between Kotliarivka and Troitsky and approached the Dnipropetrovsk region to a distance of 2 km, and the gray zone stopped approximately 700 meters from the administrative border.

Further south, the enemy began to expand the gray zone between Bohdanivka and Oleksiivka. Our partial control over Andriivka is coming to an end, as the Russian assault detachments are already breaking through to the outskirts of Oleksiivka, which creates a threat of encirclement for the Defense Forces if they continue to hold positions to the east. Moreover, in the neighboring sector of the front, in Kostiantynopol, the Defense Forces lost almost all positions and are gradually retreating west to Bahatyr, where counter street battles have been ongoing for a month.

Ukraine Russia war live map, May 31 - June 7, Photo: Espreso

While the Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to stabilize the front along the Bahatyr – Oleksiivka line, the Russian troops not only broke through to Odradne and started fighting for this other fortified area of ours, but also managed to break through the front near Dniproenerhiia. It was here, between Odradne and Dniproenerhiia, that they found a weak spot on the front and managed to break through along the tree lines for 6.5 km in one fell swoop, all the way to Komar and Fedorivka. If the Defense Forces cannot cut off this salient as soon as possible, then the defense of Odradne and Bahatyr can be forgotten – we will have to retreat further to the northwest in the direction of Dnipro region. On the other hand, Komar is a fairly convenient fortified area for defense and can last for several months, as was the case with Kostiantynopol, which held the defense since February. Currently, counterattacks are ongoing on the outskirts of Komar, and the situation is changing dynamically.

Southern front has come to life

As in the Sumy region, in order to divert the Ukrainian forces, the Russians are trying to create a crisis on the southern front as well. They attacked near Malynivka, Marfopil, and Myrne. There will probably be other attempts as well. Understanding this, our troops are also hitting logistics. Of course, the main target is the Crimean bridge, the stability of which has significantly shaken in recent days, and there is reason to believe that this main route of arms supply will soon be blocked.

Ukraine Russia war live map, May 31 - June 7, Photo: Espreso

At the same time, we are hitting other bridges and railway connections. In recent weeks, there was a sabotage on the bridge near Chonhar. On the railway line to Melitopol, a locomotive was destroyed in Yakymivka, a fuel truck near Melitopol, and sabotage was carried out on the railway between Taganrog and Mariupol. It is likely that in the coming weeks, the southern front will again cease to be one of the most calm.

The maps were created based on information obtained from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff, as well as from other open and verified sources. At the same time, the maps are not fully accurate and only conditionally reflect trends in the combat zone.