UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Aug 29 — Russian troops have advanced northwest of Pishchane, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The Kupiansk direction is strategically important for Russia because it is a critical transportation hub in northeastern Ukraine that links key supply routes and supports logistical operations. Controlling this area would enhance Russia’s ability to reinforce its troops and disrupt Ukrainian counteroffensives in the region.

Analysts, citing geolocation footage published on August 28, said Russian troops had advanced northwest of Pishchane (southeast of Kupiansk). Reports of Moscow occupying Pishchane first came in from OSINT researchers on July 24.

“Russian troops continued to advance northeast of Kupiansk near Synkivka; southeast of Kupiansk near Stelmakhivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kolesnykivka, and Kruhlyakivka,” the ISW reported.

In the Kharkiv direction, the intensity of combat operations has decreased, ISW reported. Analysts, citing a representative of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Kharkiv area, said that Russian troops have very few armored vehicles and are mostly attacking on foot or motorcycles.

“The representative [of a Ukrainian brigade] said that the intensity of Russian attacks in the Kharkiv direction has decreased since the beginning of the Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk region [Russia] from 10 attacks per day to one or two attacks per day,” reported ISW

On August 28, the General Staff reported that over the past day, there were about 34 combat clashes in the Kupiansk and Kharkiv directions. In the Kupiansk direction, there were 25 combat clashes. Defense forces repelled Russian assaults near Synkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kolisnykivka, and Stelmakhivka.

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