Russian forces have conducted infiltration operations south of Dobropillya in Donetsk Oblast, including into and around the settlement of Novyi Donbas, taking advantage of recent fog and rain for concealment. Ukrainian military observers report that these efforts have not produced consolidated control over the area, consistent with broader assessments of limited Russian progress amid Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi counteroffensive. That campaign has produced net territorial losses for Russian units in northern Donetsk since September 2026 and disrupted planned encirclement operations toward the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk defensive belt. Russian official statements continue to claim advances and settlements seized, while independent assessments indicate exaggerated metrics and slowed momentum across the Donbas theater. Ongoing Ukrainian strikes on Russian logistics and command nodes, combined with seasonal changes reducing foliage cover, remain key variables that could affect the pace of any future attempts to secure full control of contested settlements like Novyi Donbas.