🇺🇦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.

In early September, as Russian infiltrations intensified east of Kramatorsk, the 🇺🇦67th Mechanized Brigade was redeployed southeast of the city. It took charge of a sector stretching approximately from Malynivka in the north to Fedorivka in the south. Ever since 2023, this had been the 🇺🇦56th Motorized Brigade’s area of responsibility. It is possible that, as in the 46th’s case, the 67th Brigade has replaced the 56th. The 33rd Assault Regiment is also involved in the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk sector. Rumors from Ukrainian military-affiliated channels indicate it might have been assigned to UV Center’s command, presumably as a quick reaction force for the area. More specifically, its Rifle Battalion has reinforced the 46th and 67th brigades in the area of Malynivka and Tykhonivka.

🇺🇦Ukrainian Groupings and Corps sectors - a basic guide This thread is an introduction to 🇺🇦Ukrainian “Force Groupings” and Corps deployments as of late summer 2026. We have noticed several misconceptions on the topic, shared by analysts and the “broader public” alike. Our information is exclusively based on open sources and observation of publicly available data. ❗️Before we begin, a fundamental notion must be clear: at the moment, the corps headquarters and their organic brigades should be treated separately. With a few exceptions, most corps do not have all their brigades in their assigned sector (and many brigades are subordinated to corps they do not organically belong to).

First and foremost: the echelon above corps. The 🇺🇦Ukrainian frontline is split into six major sectors. Each of these is under the operational control of a “Grouping of Forces” (Угруповання військ), which is a temporary command body in charge of the corps deployed in its sector and of various smaller units. 🔵Groupings of Forces (“UV”) West (Brig. Gen. Shvedyuk) and North (Brig. Gen. Shandar) control the northern border, including the occupied area of Sumy oblast. 🔵The Joint Forces Task Force (Brig. Gen. Bryhinets) commands most of the corps deployed in Kharkiv oblast, as far south as Borova. (The JFTF has the same role as other UVs, though it is not based on a permanent Operational Command). Note: the 12th Army Corps is a command element coordinating the defense of Kyiv. The deployment of its maneuver brigades in the east does NOT imply the deployment of the corps.

Russian armed forces expansions are continuing: 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade has highly likely expanded to the 84th Motorized Rifle Division. This is an unsurprising move as its combat elements already surpassed the numbers of some existing divisions

The newly formed Russian Motorized Rifle Divisions in 2024-2026 consist of 3 Motorized Rifle Regiments and 1 Separate Tank Battalion. As the 4th Brigade already had two Regiments attached, they already have all those elements. Only their support units will need to be expanded.

Dobropillia 🇷🇺 ORBAT - Summer 2026 Similar to last year, Russia has significantly reinforced the Dobropillia direction, seeking to capture the town itself while simultaneously developing the southeastern approach toward Druzhkivka and Kramatorsk. To that end, the “Center” Grouping of Forces redeployed most of the 41st Army and elements of the 90th Guards Tank Division to reinforce existing forces in the area, including the 51st Army, 8th Army, and elements of the Naval Infantry. This change in disposition allows the 51st Army to refocus its efforts northwest toward Dobropillia, while the 41st and 8th Armies push north, attempting to maintain this offensive pressure from summer into the fall.

Interestingly, the redeployment of so many 🇷🇺 41st Army elements has left the Novopavlivka front relatively sparsely manned. Between the remaining elements of the 90th Guards Tank Division around Komar and the 15th Brigade in Udachne, only a few reserve regiments remain stationed in this section of the front.

🇺🇦Ukraine's 46th Airmobile Brigade has been redeployed to the Kostyantynivka front, after nearly three years spent fighting in southern Donetsk oblast. According to our initial sources, including footage posted by the brigade itself, the unit is reinforcing the boundary between the 19th Army Corps (in charge of Kostyantynivka itself) and the 11th Army Corps to its east. This will likely support the gradual retreat of elements of the 24th Mechanized Brigade remaining between Chasiv Yar and Stinky. The redeployment began in early July, but it was only recently confirmed via open sources. Strict OPSEC measures have become the standard for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2026, with units delaying posts up to several months to avoid giving away their relocation along the frontline. It is worth mentioning that Brigadier General Valeriy Skred, recently assigned to command the 19th Corps, spent a long time leading the 46th Brigade in 2022 and 2023. This part of the frontline, along with 3rd Army Corps’ sector further north, is under Brigadier General Biletskyi’s newly created “force grouping”, thus positioning both the 19th and 11th Corps directly under his control. The National Guard’s SOF unit “Omega” has recently deployed to this area too, possibly in its nearly full strength. Additionally, the 33rd Assault Regiment was partially reassigned to Biletskyi's 3rd Army Corps after Drapatyi replaced Syrskyi as CinC. We might see some of its elements committed to Kostyantynivka in the near future.