UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Dec 16 – In the Kupiansk direction, the Russian army attacked Ukrainian troops four times in the areas of Kucherivka, Zahryzove, Lozova, and Petropavlivka, reported the General Staff.

Russia started its new offensive north and northeast in the Kharkiv region in May, but Ukrainian troops have stabilized the frontline in this section since. Now, heavy battles are ongoing in and around Vovchansk (three miles from the border, 46 miles away from Kharkiv) and near Lyptsi (six miles from the border, 12 miles from Kharkiv.)

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops tried three times to storm Ukrainian positions near Hlyboke and Kozacha Lopan.

Russia launched 24 airstrikes, dropping 30 glide bombs (KABs) on positions of Ukrainian troops and on cities and villages in the Kharkiv region over the past day. Russians fired over 4,200 times at Ukrainian forces, including 141 times with multiple launch rocket systems.

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  • On December 15, Russian military bloggers claimed that the Russian army had captured the village of Dvorichna in Kharkiv region, which is located north of Kupiansk. However, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War do not confirm this information.