Equator of the Russian offensiveSince the first days of May, when the Russian Armed Forces began their "summer" offensive, we are now passing the notional equator, a point at which certain conclusions can be drawn to understand the dynamics and further development of military actions. It is clear that the main objectives of the offensive are the encirclement and the beginning of urban combat in Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka. To achieve this, they needed to fully capture Toretsk and Chasiv Yar, which they have not accomplished so far. The greatest achievement of the Russians is the wedge they have driven between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka by cutting the road between them. The invading forces have managed to stretch the front here for 23 km, from Romanivka to Malynivka, and are conducting a creeping advance that threatens the logistics of both Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka. The maximum depth of penetration here is 11.5 km in the area of Popovyi Yar. However, while their offensive was rapid at first, by June, having encountered our new defensive positions, the Russian advance slowed significantly. The Russian troops were able to advance another 5 km north of Toretsk, trying to break through the front not through the city itself and to force the Defense Forces to leave Toretsk to avoid encirclement. But these are only intentions; in reality, they are almost at a standstill here. Another, secondary task of the Russian troops has been to activate additional fronts in order to stretch the Ukrainian Armed Forces as much as possible away from the main defensive positions in the Donetsk region. For this, they entered the Sumy region, several areas in the northern Kharkiv region, as well as Zaporizhzhia. Although the Russians did force the Ukrainian army to allocate additional resources to eliminate new threats, in the end, their advance was insignificant. The situation on all these fronts is still developing.Reaching the left bank of the Oskil River and capturing Kupiansk have always been priority tasks for the Russian forces in the eastern Kharkiv region. But as in previous years, and during this stage of the offensive, the enemy is advancing the slowest here. Only at one point were the Russians able to break through by 7.5 km, driving a wedge into the front between Borova and Lyman. In all other areas, they either stood still or advanced by 1–2 km. The only currently dangerous development is their approach to the northern outskirts of Kupiansk. Map of changes in occupation in the Novopavlivka sector in May-June, photo: EspresoOn the Novopavlivka front, the Russians have accomplished the maximum of their objectives. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have not been able to stabilize the front here all this time. Since the beginning of the summer offensive on the Novopavlivka front, Russia has managed to capture territory approximately 25 km to the west and 20 km to the north.Now, let’s look at the changes on the map that have occurred over the past week.Sumy region and northern Kharkiv regionA few weeks ago, the Russian troops lost their offensive potential in the Sumy region. They have still not managed to fully capture Yunakivka or take control of the forest near Sadky, although they are still trying to do so. Instead, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out a series of counterattacks and split the front in such a way that several groups of Russian soldiers could end up encircled. In particular, Ukrainian defenders advanced 2.5 km between Kostiantynivka and Kindrativka, as well as 3.5 km between Oleksiivka and Volodymyrivka, and fully regained control over Novomykolaivka. Although the Russians cut off from their rear still retain the ability to resist, their window for retreat remains quite limited. Another group of enemy troops is trying to help their own by attacking from Yablunivka towards Varachyne, but here the Defense Forces are holding them back.Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoNear Vovchansk, Putin’s forces sharply increased the number of attacks, but without success. On the other hand, this could become a new permanent tactic of the enemy—to attack the Ukrainian northern border, constantly creating new sectors of danger. One of their priority goals may be to cut off logistics, which currently largely runs through Velykyi Burluk. This would allow them to expand their bridgehead north of Kupiansk, in the area of Dvorichna, where the invaders still cannot amass enough troops and armored vehicles.Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoBorova and LymanAn unpleasant surprise was the Russian breakthrough 3.5 km deep into Ukrainian defenses in the area of Borivska Andriivka, which is north of Borova. As the experience of the past two years shows, the Defense Forces do not have the capability to cut off the newly formed wedge, and therefore it will likely continue to expand and deepen. Here, Putin’s forces aim to reach the road between Borova and Kruhliakivka in order to cut off our defensive bridgehead on the left bank of the Oskil River. Currently, they are 4.5 km away from the road, meaning that in just a few days they have covered almost half the distance.Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoDespite the fact that the Lyman front has become the second most active in terms of clashes, the Defense Forces have managed to hold back the Russians at almost all positions. The exception is the occupation of the village of Zelena Dolyna, which had maintained an all-around defense for a long time. This allowed the invading Russian forces to advance 1–2 km along a 12 km front between Karpivka and Kolodiazi.Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoKostiantynivka frontWhile the Defense Forces are holding the front in Romanivka and Shcherbynivka, the Russians are attacking from the flanks in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian grouping that is fighting both in Toretsk and its outskirts. The enemy is attacking both Dyliivkas; their complete occupation would split our defenses in half on the southeastern approaches to Kostiantynivka. This would lead to Ukrainian withdrawal from a whole series of important positions, as well as the final loss of Toretsk. For now, fierce fighting is ongoing here.In Toretsk itself, the Russians have taken control of several blocks in the southern part of the city and have made some minor advances in the area of Leonidivka. Overall, however, the front here remains fairly stable. Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoOn the road from Pokrovsk to Kostiantynivka, the Russians have been unable to break through Ukrainian defenses in Yablunivka for several weeks. Recently, although they have advanced a few hundred meters, they have mostly shifted the direction of their attacks northward, trying to bypass Yablunivka and cut off part of the logistics for Kostiantynivka. Here, they are attacking toward Stepanivka, Rusynyi Yar, and have engaged in battles for Popiv Yar. This axis of attack by the Russian Armed Forces is the most threatening both for Kostiantynivka and for Pokrovsk.Pokrovsk – threat to logisticsAlthough the 110,000-strong Russian force on the Pokrovsk front has not achieved any territorial gains, the threat of cutting off logistics is becoming increasingly real. After advancing earlier near Novotoretske and Razine, the enemy has approached within 10 km of the Dobropillia–Pokrovsk highway and is already terrorizing it with drones.On the other flank, Putin’s forces have significantly intensified their offensive on Udachne and Kotlyne, which are 8 km away on the route to the Pavlohrad–Pokrovsk highway. This highway is also under constant drone attacks. Protecting Ukrainian logistics is currently a top priority, and without doing so, it will be difficult to hold Pokrovsk.Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoCrisis on the Novopavlivka front deepensThe Ukrainian Armed Forces have not managed to stop the Russians in the area between the Vovcha and Mokri Yaly rivers. The enemy broke through to the other bank both in Vesele and Myrne, and also occupied Piddubne and Tolstyi, continuing to advance both northward and westward. Ukrainian positions west of Komar have found themselves in a semi-encirclement and will likely be captured soon. The Defense Forces are gradually retreating, taking up new positions. These are likely to be the villages of Ivanivka and Andriivka-Klevtsove, which are located on commanding heights, making it convenient to target the low-lying area between the rivers. It has been a month since the Russian troops entered the villages of Yalta and Zaporizhzhia. During this time, they have significantly expanded their wedge. Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoIn the north, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still holding Dachne and are not allowing the Russians to cross the Vovcha at this point. The invading forces also still cannot fully capture Oleksiivka.To the east of Novopavlivka, the front has stalled a few kilometers from the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk region. No matter how hard the Russian army has tried to break through here, it has not been able to move the front for over a month.Orikhiv frontOver the past week, the Russians have not managed to fully capture Kamianske, but they have taken control of almost all of its central and western parts, while the Defense Forces have withdrawn to the northern part of the village. In addition, under significant pressure, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were forced to retreat from positions near Lobkove. Thus, after two weeks of the Russian offensive, they have managed to fully capture the lateral road to Orikhiv and have created a certain threat of further advance to the north. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been preparing defensive positions here for quite some time, so the enemy cannot count on rapid progress.Ukraine Russia war live map, July 5-12, photo: EspresoThe maps were created based on information received from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff, as well as from other open and verified sources. At the same time, the maps are not completely accurate and only conditionally reflect trends in the combat zone.