UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, June 18 — The Russian military is redeploying units from the Donetsk region to the Kharkiv direction due to counterattacks by the Ukrainian army, reported the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on June 17.

The Ukrainian military has stabilized the frontline north and northeast of the Kharkiv region, where Russia launched a new ground offensive in May. Currently, heavy fighting is ongoing in and around Vovchansk and on the Lyptsi axis. 

Ukrainian military official, Yurii Povkh, confirmed that the Russian army is redeploying elements of the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade to the Lyptsi direction, likely from west and southwest of Donetsk, reports ISW.

A Russian source also claimed that elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade were operating near Vovchansk.

 “The reported appearance of these elements in the Vovchansk area indicates a possible redeployment from the Donetsk direction to the Kharkiv direction to bolster the Russian grouping in Kharkiv Oblast,” ISW analysts said. 

On June 16, Russian sources published geolocated footage showing Russian forces repelling a Ukrainian counterattack in northwestern Hlyboke.

Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces launched mechanized counterattacks near Hlyboke and counterattacked from the direction of Tykhe and near the Aggregate Plant within Vovchansk, the ISW reports.

Analysts noted that the Russian forces also continued offensive operations north of Kharkiv near Lyptsi and northeast of Kharkiv near central Vovchansk and Vovchanski Khutory. 

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on June 12 that in the Kharkiv direction, the Russian army is conducting unsuccessful offensives, trying to advance deep into Ukrainian positions and create a “safety belt” for their forces.

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