UKRAINE, May 8 —  Russian forces kept up the offensive along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, but there were no changes to the frontline, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) research group and think tank in its assessment from May 7.

Researchers cite Russian sources claiming that their troops are advancing northwest of Svatove near Kyslivka and Kotliarivka and note, “ISW has not observed visual confirmation of these claims.” 

Russia’s goal on the Kupiansk axis is to seize the remainder of Luhansk oblast and push westward into Kharkiv oblast’s east and Donetsk oblast’s north. Reoccupying Kupiansk, which the Ukrainian army liberated during the Kharkiv counteroffensive in the autumn of 2022, is vital for Russian efforts in this direction. It’s a vital logistics and railway hub for the region. 

In their May 6 report, the Institute also doesn’t confirm Russian claims that capturing Kotliarivka allowed them to occupy Kyslivka in the region. Earlier, researchers visual confirmation that Russians reoccupied Kotliarivka in the Kupiansk district “no later than May 4.”

DeepState UA, a Ukrainian non-governmental volunteer organization that monitors and analyzes Russian-Ukrainian full-scale war, confirms the Russian occupation of Kyslivka. Kyslivka, as well as Kotliarivka, is signified as occupied by Russia on their maps. 

DeepStateMap's map of the frontline area, where Kotliarivka and Kyslivka are marked as Russian-occupied villages / Source: DeepState UA
DeepStateMap’s map of the frontline area, where Kotliarivka and Kyslivka are marked as Russian-occupied villages / Source: DeepState UA

On May 8, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in their evening briefing that the Ukrainian army repelled seven attacks in the Kupiansk direction near Synkivka, Ivanove, and Berestove in Kharkiv oblast, and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk oblast. They noted that the Russians were using aviation to support their tactical position on the Axis. 

Gwara Media reached out to the representatives of the Ground Forces of Ukraine for a comment regarding the status of Kyslivka and Kotliarivka in the Kharkiv oblast. As of May 8, 11:56 p.m., we didn’t receive a response. 

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