In June, the second month of the large-scale Russian offensive, the negative trends from May worsened further. In particular, Russian forces captured 556 km² of Ukrainian territory, the worst figure in 2025 and the second worst since early 2023.Dynamics of occupation of Ukrainian territory in 2024–2025, photo: EspresoWorse still, the negative trend in the number of the occupying Russian soldiers killed continued, with only 32,400, the lowest figure since May last year. Despite the Russian army being at its weakest in this war, Ukrainian troops also face significant challenges, as the numbers clearly show.Chart of Russian manpower losses in Ukraine, photo: EspresoThe Armed Forces of Ukraine set a new record by shooting down over 4,500 drones. However, this reflects an objective fact: Russia has significantly increased its drone numbers. Putin’s forces launched 2,736 Shaheds alone, nearly 10% of all such drones used since the war began. Terror against Ukrainian cities, especially Kyiv, has intensified. Additionally, Russian forces aim to reach the artillery range of Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia to escalate terror, similar to the ongoing attacks on Kherson.Chart of Russian UAV losses in Ukraine, photo: EspresoSumy and Kharkiv regionsOver the past two weeks, the occupying Russian forces have made no advances on this front segment, and their offensive pace has slightly declined, though it remains the fourth highest among all fronts. The Russian troops’ main focus is capturing Yunakivka. However, the Defense Forces not only hold part of this strategically important village but also carried out several counterattacks, pushing Russian forces back 200–300 meters to the east and northeast of the Sadky village.June 24–July 4 Ukraine war map, photo: EspresoAdditionally, after liberating Andriivka, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to push Russian invaders further north of the village. Meanwhile, Russian forces have redeployed some troops to support the border settlement of Tyotkino in the Kursk region, where they maintain a defensive perimeter. Ukrainian troops shell them daily from three sides like shooting at targets. Clearly, their ranks are so depleted that new targets are needed to hold the village. The Russians are experiencing a manpower shortage here, which is likely why new North Korean troops will be brought in soon. However, after the shelling of the town of Korenevo, where the deputy commander of the Russian Navy, Major General Gudkov, who led the 155th Marine Brigade in Kursk, was killed along with a dozen of his officers, the command position in this direction remains vacant.Meanwhile, the Russian troops have intensified their activity in the northern Kharkiv region, attempting to break through at various points along the border. They have captured the border village of Milove and expanded their control zone by 7.5 km along the border. Potentially, this is aimed at threatening our logistics route through Velykyi Burluk. To do so, they would need to advance 6-7 km deeper into Ukraine and capture the village of Khatne to then move toward Velykyi Burluk. However, this scenario seems unlikely. It is more likely another campaign to divert our resources urgently needed in the Donetsk region. Similar in significance are the renewed activity near Vovchansk and the occupation of the abandoned border village of Stroivka.June 24–July 4 Ukraine war map, photo: EspresoMeanwhile, the threat to Kupiansk has significantly increased. Russian forces managed to break through by 5 km in a single push, capturing Holubivka and advancing to Redkivka, just 1.5 km from the outskirts of Kupiansk on the right bank of the Oskil River. We still cannot dislodge Russian invaders from Kindrashivka, where they are entrenched in the village center awaiting reinforcements. On the left bank, near Synkivka, Russian troops advanced 1 km into our defenses along a front over 3 km long. Currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are unable to improve their position and are preparing a defensive perimeter around Kupiansk on both banks of the Oskil River.Lyman front stabilizationAlthough the area between Lyman and Borova remains consistently among the three most active fronts, Russian occupiers have had very questionable successes here in recent weeks and throughout June. In the west, they have been stopped at the village of Karpivka and the Nitrius River water system nearby. Nove, Ridkodub, Zelena Dolyna, Kolodiazi, and Torske have successfully withstood attacks and prevented the Russians from advancing toward Lyman and Borova. The Russians’ only minor gains were the occupation of Hrekivka, one of the last villages in nearly fully occupied Luhansk, and the full capture of Novomykhailivka, after battles that lasted since early May.June 24–July 4 Ukraine war map, photo: EspresoEncirclement narrows around KostiantynivkaThe Russians are attacking on all fronts around Kostiantynivka and making steady progress. In the Klishchiivka and Andriivka areas, they have already seized the entire territory along the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas canal. At the same time, they captured a significant area north of Toretsk between the two Dyliivkas, one of which they have taken, while fighting continues for the other. Capturing the second Dyliivka will likely cause the front near Kurdyumivka to collapse and extend along part of the canal. In Toretsk itself, the intensity of fighting has decreased: Putin’s forces realized they lack the capability to break through our defenses head-on and are now seeking flanking routes by attacking toward Shcherbynivka.June 24–July 4 Ukraine war map, photo: EspresoFor over two weeks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been holding Russian troops in Yablunivka, preventing them from bypassing the Kleban-Byk Reservoir. The Russians are trying to shift their attacks northward toward Stepanivka to flank Kostiantynivka through the Druzhkivka community. However, their efforts here have so far been unsuccessful, as have attacks from Romanivka toward Katerynivka.Although Russian forces are pushing toward Kostiantynivka, their plan is to start fighting for the city before the autumn rains. For now, they are slowly searching for weak points in our defense.Preparation for attack on PokrovskOn one hand, the Pokrovsk front appears the most stable, despite hosting the majority of the fighting in this war. On the other hand, Russian occupiers are slowly advancing toward their goal — to cut the city off from logistics. Therefore, the focus is not on frontal assaults but on flanking attacks. From the left flank during this period, Putin’s forces captured Koptieve and expanded the gray zone north and west of it. Fighting continues in Novotoretske and Razine. Slightly south, approaching the town of Novoekonomichne, Russian forces occupied the village of Myrne. Interestingly, on this front, they lacked the strength to close the pocket between Malynivka and Myroliubivka, where they have been stuck for at least a month. Overall, their pace of advance here has significantly slowed.June 24–July 4 Ukraine war map, photo: EspresoOn the right flank, the Russians have been unable to breach the defenses of Kotlyne and Udachne for several months, so they are attempting a wider flanking maneuver. Moving along the road from Uspenivka, they occupied Novoserhiivka and expanded their control zone north of it, likely aiming for Molodetske. Interestingly, despite active information operations claiming territorial gains in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian forces have still failed to secure positions beyond the administrative border between the regions.Novopavlivka front crisisSince last summer, when the Russians managed to break through the front near Vuhledar, this southern Donetsk front has been the most vulnerable, and it is here that Russian invaders have made the greatest territorial gains, steadily advancing toward the administrative border with the Dnipropetrovsk region. Recently, Russian forces occupied key defensive locations for us, including Andriivka, Kostiantynopil, Bahatyr, and Odradne, and they also captured a significant part of Oleksiivka, which is now fully engulfed in fighting.However, the worst development for us is the sudden nearly 10 km breakthrough toward the villages of Zaporizhzhia and Yalta, with the Defense Forces unable to halt this advance, which has now expanded another 7 km through Zirka toward Piddubne. In two weeks, the Russians completely shattered our defense in this section of the front, and we still cannot stabilize it. While it was previously hoped that Russian troops could be held within the rivers Vovcha and Mokri Yaly, we now see that the occupiers have crossed the Mokri Yaly near Piddubne, and they are forcing the Vovcha River near Oleksiivka and Dachne, which is also currently contested in battle.June 24–July 4 Ukraine war map, photo: EspresoAdditionally, the Russian advance in Piddubne threatens our defense in Komar. Moreover, Russian occupiers have taken Novosilka and Shevchenko on the right flank and are attacking Voskresenka to encircle our forces in the Komar area. Our defense here has largely collapsed, and Russian troops are rapidly advancing. The situation on this part of the front is developing quickly, and it is unclear where the Defense Forces will be able to stabilize the line.Zaporizhzhia front heats upLike in the Kharkiv region, the Zaporizhzhia front has a rather diversionary and tactical purpose, as indicated by the small number of fights. However, Russian forces have amassed resources and breached our defenses in the village of Kamianske. They controlled the southern part of the village, while we held the northern part, separated by the mouth of the Yanchekrak River. The Russian forces managed to cross the river and take control of the central part of the village. Fierce fighting is ongoing as the Defense Forces have no intention of losing these advantageous defensive positions. Furthermore, the Russian foothold in the village could negatively impact the entire front from Stepove to Shcherbaky and open opportunities for Putin’s forces to advance closer to the city of Zaporizhzhia.June 24–July 4 Ukraine war map, photo: EspresoAt the same time, near Stepove, Russian forces managed to seize the eastern part of the village and cross the road to Orikhiv. However, the Defense Forces stopped their further advance. This section of the front, which had been nearly frozen for a long time, is likely to become more active in the coming weeks.The maps were created using data from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other verified open sources. They are approximate and only represent general trends in the combat zone.