As kos talked about this morning, after a few weeks during which Ukrainian troops appeared to be catching their breath, the Kharkiv counteroffensive is again in enterprise. On Thursday, Ukrainian forces captured the city of Vesele, which had not solely been a long-time exhausting level for the Russian line, however was additionally one of many websites from which Russia was firing artillery into the town of Kharkiv.
Along with Vesele, Ukraine captured a pair of small villages close by and has begun to press towards the city of Neskuchne to the north. If Ukraine can take this city, they’ll assist finish what has turn into Russia’s favourite interest within the space—making runs at retaking the city of Ternova.
Instantly following the seize of Vesele, it appeared that Russia was attempting to counter this transfer by pushing south out of Lyptsi, however a day later the stream of site visitors appears to have reversed. Together with reviews that Ukraine already holds the east and south of Lyptsi, extra forces appear to be pushing towards that space and spreading to the west to hammer Russian positions on the village of Velyki Prokhody. All of this could assist scale back the each day rain of no-reason-but-hate shells that Russia has been lobbing into the town.
In the meantime, on the japanese fringe of this theater, Rubizhne continues to be in dispute. So does all the things on the east aspect of the river. These east aspect areas aren’t a lot in dispute within the “energetic fight” sense as within the “little or no information” sense. Nevertheless, there was artillery fireplace all the way in which up north of Buhaivka and down by Khotimlya. That appears to be sufficient to counsel that Ukrainian forces are nonetheless throughout the river and nonetheless making hassle. Telegram is just not filled with the terrified “they’re coming for Vovchansk!” messages that have been seen on the day after Ukraine managed to get forces throughout from Staryi Saltiv, however there does appear to be some motion occurring. There even appears to be some motion underway all the way in which up by the bridge web site east of Starytsya. Although the forces concerned have been described as “platoon-sized,” that is one other a type of “How did Ukraine get there?” conditions.
Relating to what’s occurring within the Izyum space, the reply is: What isn’t? On the far east of Ukrainian management, the unlikely protection of Severodonetsk continues, with jaw-dropping outcomes. On Thursday morning, the mayor of the city introduced that Russia was accountable for Severedonetsk. Then Ukraine launched a counterattack that included dialogue of the entire metropolis being a entice for overconfident Russian forces. By some estimates, solely about 30% of the town is now underneath Russian management.
On Friday, Ukraine reportedly controls a majority of Severodonetsk, together with the town middle, and has been persevering with to realize floor. As well as, Ukrainian forces have pushed Russian forces out of adjoining villages and put a big space again into dispute. The push again into the town middle appears to have included forces from the Ukrainian International Legion.
If issues begin to flip bitter in Severodonestk, Ukraine can at all times retreat throughout the bridge to Lysychansk, however in the intervening time holding Severodonestk appears to characterize nice symbolic worth and a real army win. How a lot harm they’re really doing to Russian forces on this location goes to take a while to determine, however it’s by no means good to be the military that had been transferring ahead, then finds itself going into reverse.
In the meantime on the west aspect of this space, across the precise city of Izyum, issues are getting heated in all instructions. On the east, the pocket of Ukrainian management that used to increase as much as the city of Oskil has largely collapsed and Russia is now urgent in from all sides, utilizing a reported 22 BTGs with the objective of taking out Ukrainian forces and something that is still of Ukrainian positions on the north aspect of the river.
The stress on Studenok and close by villages is large, and reviews are that some Ukrainian positions on this space have been deserted, with forces taking over positions on the south financial institution of the river. Many areas on the south aspect are bolstered not simply by the pure protection of the river, however by hills that present superior firing positions. This complete pocket between Izyum and Lyman may simply flip to Russian management within the subsequent few days—assuming Russia can maintain issues collectively—however this could be extra within the nature of a relocation of Ukrainian forces fairly than a big loss.
Lastly, at the same time as Ukrainian forces proceed to nip away alongside the south and west of the Izyum space, Russian forces have reportedly unfold out into the woods west of the town, the place Ukrainian forces had been staging hit and run raids for the final month, and retaken a few tiny crossroads. It seems like a good quantity of space, however solely as a result of there’s actually subsequent to nothing there. And Russian forces within the space don’t precisely have the very best opinion of their management.
Truthfully, there’s not quite a bit new to report over close to Kherson. The Ukrainian forces that crossed the Inhulets River close to Davydiv Brid have unfold out to determine what appears to be a big beachhead on the east aspect, and extra forces have reportedly crossed into the world, however the focus during the last day appears to have been extra about securing that place than persevering with the advance. Preventing continues at each Snihurivka to the south and Vysokopillya to the north. Each of those areas have been important positions from which Russia was directing different operations within the space, so taking them could possibly be disruptive over a big area. However it doesn’t appear to have occurred but. There’s phrase that Ukraine has reached a collection of villages and cities south of Davydiv Brid, however no definitive phrase that they’re accountable for these areas.
Within the Zaporizhzhia space, that supposed new Russian column has but to reach. Nevertheless, there was some shelling close to Verkhnia, south of Zaporizhzhia on the east financial institution of the Dnieper River. So possibly these 1960 classic T-62 tanks are on their means.
