UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Dec 26— The Institute for the Study of War, citing geolocation footage from December 24, 25, and 26, reports that Russians captured Lozova and Berestove in the Kupiansk direction. However, Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for the “Khortytsia” strategic group of forces, denies this information.

One of the main goals of the Russian full-scale war is to capture the remainder of occupied Luhansk and Donetsk Oblast; their operations on the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line are dedicated to that. From this section of the frontline, they also aim to push into Kharkiv Oblast and re-occupy Kupiansk and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, important logistics hubs for the region.

“In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy tried to improve the tactical situation in the areas of Pishchane, Kolisnykivka, Lozova, and Kruhliakivka but failed,” said Nazar Voloshyn.

ISW does not confirm the reports of Russian military bloggers about the capture of Zahryzove and the advance of Russians along the road between Dvorichna and Zakhidne.

The ISW says Russia continues to advance in the area near Kindrashivka, Dvorichna, Vilshany, Petropavlivka, Kolisnykivka, Zahryzove, Stelmakhivka and Lozova.

In addition, analysts deny information about Russian advances near Starytsia along the Siverskyi Donets River, as well as in the direction of Derhachi and Zolochiv in the Kharkiv direction.

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