KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE, May 15 — The General Staff of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv direction on May 10, Russia has lost 615 soldiers and 98 equipment units. 

General Staff also reported that Russians had not conducted any assaults since the beginning of May 15, trying to gain a foothold in the areas they’ve already advanced to and regroup.

In a later report, the military noted that Ukrainian forces partially pushed Russians off from Vovchansk. They are now defending the city on its northern and northeastern outskirts. 

General Staff also reported that three combat clashes occurred in this direction, as Russians tried to attack in the Lyptsi direction. They also hit Lyptsi (a village 7.5 km from the border and 20 km from Kharkiv) and Mala Danylivka in Kharkiv Oblast (a village in Kharkiv’s suburbs 27 km from the border) with air attacks. 

In Kupiansk, the military reports combat clashes in Stelmakhivka, Synkivka, Berestove, Novoiehorivka, Pishchane, and Miasozharivka. Overall, the Ukrainian military fought off 18 Russian attacks.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assesses that the pace of the Russian offensive in the north of Kharkiv Oblast has probably slowed down during the last 24 hours. Earlier, they assessed that, in its new offensive, Russia might favor the creation of a “buffer zone” along the state line instead of deeper advancement in Kharkiv Oblast. 

Gwara Media was in Vovchansk, a city that’s one of the main goals of Russia’s new Kharkiv offensive, and talked to people who were fleeing their homes (or staying) under heavy bombardment. Read the field report here. 

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