UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, May 23 — In the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian troops are repelling a Russian attack in the Murom-Starytsia direction, reports the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

In the Kupiansk direction, the Russian troops made four attempts to advance near Stelmakhivka and Hrekivka since the beginning of the day: Ukrainian troops repelled one attack, and three combat engagements are ongoing. The situation is under control. 

On May 10, Russia launched a new ground offensive north and northeast of the Kharkiv region, in Vovchansk and Lyptsi directions. Military analysts and the Ukrainian military said Russia’s main goal in a new offensive would be to stretch Ukrainian troops and resources and force Ukraine to pull forces away from Donetsk Oblast. 

Over the past day, the Russian army lost more than 180 people, 54 pieces of weapons, and military equipment in the Kharkiv direction. Ukrainian troops destroyed two artillery systems and damaged five others, destroyed 14 enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and 11 vehicles, and damaged 17 others. They also damaged one tank and one air defense system and destroyed three special vehicles and one ammunition depot.

Yesterday, the Russian military lost more than 100 people on the Kupiansk axis. In addition, Ukrainian troops damaged a Russian tank and destroyed two infantry fighting vehicles, two armored personnel carriers, 18 UAVs, and two cars.

Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, said on Ukrainian TV on May 23 that Russia did not achieve what it had planned in the Kharkiv region during its new ground offensive.

“We are not going to give our full assessment and information on this [Russian offensive] now, because this will help the enemy to react and adjust its actions. But we can state that they [Russians] did not even come close to achieving what they had planned. First of all, [because of] the actions of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces,” Yusov said.

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