Positional fighting on the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line continued on February 29, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.

Russia’s key objective in this frontline direction remains the complete occupation of Luhansk Oblast and advancement to the east of Kharkiv and the north of Donetsk Oblast.

Geolocated footage published on February 28 shows Russian forces advanced into Tabaivka (northwest of Svatove).

Positional fighting continued northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka; west of Kreminna near Terny and Yampolivka; and south of Kreminna near Bilohorivka and the Serebryanske forest area.

Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported that elements of the Russian 25th Motorized Rifle Brigade and 138th Motorized Rifle Brigade (both of the 6th Combined Arms Army (CAA), Western Military District [WMD]) are attacking northeast of Kupiansk on the Synkivka-Petropavlivka line to bypass Synkivka from the west towards Kupiansk.

Tabaivka in Kharkiv Oblast / Map: ISW’s Interactive Map of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

He stated that elements of the Russian 15th Motorized Rifle Regiment reinforced with elements of the 1st Tank Regiment (both of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division, 1st Guards Tank Army, WMD) are attacking along the line. He also reported that Russian forces transferred “Storm” assault companies of the 254th Motorized Rifle Regiment (144th Motorized Rifle Division, 20th CAA, WMD) to the Terny area.

On February 15, 2024, the Ukrainian Defense Forces had successes in the Kupiansk sector, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Military Administration, in a talk with Kharkiv journalists.

“Tabaivka is located a little bit in the lowlands. There is an altitude controlled by the military of the aggressor country, and there is an altitude behind Tabaivka closer to Kharkiv Oblast, which is controlled by our military. If the Russians are on the opposite height, it is unprofitable to be in the settlement itself, nor to put military equipment and personnel at risk,” comments Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv RMA.

What to know about the possible occupation of Tabaivka in Kharkiv Oblast

On January 27-28, 2024, the Russians announced the capture of the village of Tabaivka in the Kharkiv region, but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has no evidence to support this claim. At the same time, DeepState analysts reported that the occupiers did occupy the village. At the time, ISW analysts noted in a report that the Russian army had recently made a confirmed advance northeast of Kupiansk.

Before the full-scale invasion, 34 people lived there. The Russian side claimed that it was already in control of the settlement.

A little earlier, Russian troops seized the village of Krokhmalne in the Kharkiv region. This was also reported on January 20, 2024, by the Institute for the Study of War, citing geolocation images.

More from Gwara

Governor: Forced evacuation may be announced for all localities in the Kupiansk area. The evacuation will primarily affect families with children. The Kharkiv Regional Defense Council will discuss the issue of forced evacuation from all localities in the Kupiansk sector of the hostilities.

Constant missile attacks and deserted streets: how Kupiansk lives on the front line. It is 10-15 km / 6–9 miles from the front line and 40 km / 25 miles from the border with Russia. The city was severely damaged at the beginning of the full-scale invasion and during the battle for its liberation in September 2022.