UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Jul 9 — In the Kupiansk direction, there were seven Russian army attacks on Ukrainian positions over the past day, reported the General Staff.

Russia started their 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.)

The General Staff reports that in the Kupiansk direction, the Defense Forces repelled Russian assaults near Berestove, Pishchane, and Stelmakhivka. 

The Russians continue to attack in the Kharkiv direction. According to the General Staff, there were nine combat clashes in this direction over the past day. The Russians attacked near Tykhe, Vovchansk, Hlyboke, Starytsia, and Sotnytskyi Kozachok.

The Russians also hit Starytsia, Vovchansk, Vilcha, Tsyrkuny, Vovchanski Khutory, Hlyboke, Mali Prokhody, and Pokaliane with air strikes.

The commander of the operational battalion of the 13th National Guard Brigade “Khartia” said in an interview with Gwara Media that the Ukrainian military had stopped the Russian army’s movement towards Kharkiv, so the 13th Brigade of the National Guard “Khartia” and other combat units are creating conditions to push the Russians back.

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  • In the Lyptsi direction, like in almost all areas of the front, Russian troops create small infantry groups of four to six people and advance mostly in bad weather. The military notes that the Russians learned this from the Ukrainian army.