UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, July 31 — Russian troops may have seized the entire aggregate plant in Vovchansk, reported the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing geolocation footage on July 28. 

Russia started its 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.)

According to ISW, the published photos show Ukrainian drone strikes on a large accumulation of ammunition in the eastern part of the Vovchansk aggregate plant. Analysts assume these images indicate that the Russian troops may have wholly seized the plant.

“It is unclear when Russian forces seized the plant, however. Fighting also continued near Hlyboke and elsewhere within Vovchansk,” ISW reported.

As of now, there is no official confirmation of this information from the Ukrainian forces.

On June 19, the ISW quoted Colonel Yurii Povkh, a spokesman for the “Kharkiv” group of forces, saying that the Ukrainian troops had “blocked” dozens of Russian soldiers in Vovchansk.

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