Russian forces have conducted limited offensive operations and infiltrations southeast of Dobropillya in Donetsk Oblast, including areas near the settlement of Novyi Donbas, as part of broader efforts to advance toward the Fortress Belt cities of Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Slovyansk. Kremlin statements and military reporting continue to emphasize seizure of the full Donetsk Oblast as a core objective, with repeated deadlines set for the end of 2026, though independent assessments indicate Russian territorial gains remain modest at roughly 2-3 square kilometers per day on average. Ukrainian counteroffensives, including Operation Vivaldi in the Lyman sector, have disrupted northern flanking attempts, while the southern axis toward Dobropillya has faced sustained resistance. Diplomatic contacts involving U.S. envoys have highlighted Moscow’s insistence on full territorial control before negotiations, amid ongoing artillery, drone, and ground engagements that shape trader assessments of near-term capture prospects for specific settlements.