The Ukrainian military says Russia is holding back some of its forces within its borders to prevent a Ukrainian counterattack that has made some progress east of Kharkov.
In the latest operational update, the Armed Forces General Staff says that “in order to prevent the advance of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy has concentrated up to nineteen tactical battalion groups in the Belgorod region” of Russia.
Russians are holding back units as Ukrainian units move closer to Russia’s border, analysts say.
Within Ukraine, the General Staff says the most intense activity is in the Donetsk region, where Russian troops are trying to advance towards the city of Lyman, a major transportation hub.
In other parts of the region, it says, “the enemy has increased its firepower and is trying to break through the defenses of our troops.”
Still, it says, Russian forces remain “focused on regrouping units, replenishing ammunition, fuel, [and] retention of previously occupied positions.”
The general staff says it expects the Russians to resume an offensive towards the village of Sulyhivka as they try to make progress from the Izium area. The Russians have made modest gains in the area in the past month, but have not reached any settlement.
Luhansk: On the Luhansk front, the increase in Russian shelling has resulted in increased civilian casualties and made rescue operations more difficult.
Serhiy Hayday, head of the military administration of the Luhansk region, said rescuers had lost contact with 11 people hiding in a basement in Shypilovo. He said it was impossible to completely dismantle the wreckage of damaged buildings in Bilohorivka — where a school housing civilians were found over the weekend — or Shypilovo.
“With the support of aircraft and artillery, the enemy focused their efforts on trying to gain control of Rubizhne and prepare for the continuation of offensive operations towards Lysychansk. The enemy increased firepower and tried to advance through the defense of our troops to break,” he said.
Russian forces have made only minor territorial gains in Luhansk, but are now in control of the devastated city of Popasna.
South Ukraine: The General Staff claimed that Russians in the occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhya region in the south are confiscating civilians’ personal documents and returning them only when they attend ceremonial events to mark the Victory Day. DailyExpertNews cannot verify the claim.
After a weekend of dueling battles over Snake Island in the Black Sea, Odessa’s military government says: “There are [Russian] The ships and submarines of the Black Sea Fleet with cruise missiles on board are constantly maneuvering and regrouping.”
“The number of boats has increased. So far we know of six ships and two submarines,” it said.
Odessa’s military government reiterated the list of Russian units it destroyed over the weekend: a small landing craft, two patrol boats and a vessel carrying anti-aircraft defenses to Snake Island, as well as a helicopter.
