UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Aug 19 — A few weeks ago, Russian troops conducted 30 to 50 strikes a day in the Kharkiv direction, but now the number of attacks reduced, reported the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing Kharkiv Group of Forces’ spokesperson Colonel Vitalii Sarantsev.

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.)

Sarantsev said that in the Kharkiv direction, the Russians reduced the number of glide bomb (KAB) strikes to one to four a day. He added that Russians also might have reduced the number of air attacks to commit aviation to other directions (Pokrovsk, Kursk, Sumy) or to protect the jets against Kyiv’s attacks against Russian rear areas. 

The ISW also reported that on August 18, Russian forces continued ground attacks north of Kharkiv near Lyptsi and Hlyboke and northeast of Kharkiv near Vovchansk but did not make any confirmed gains.

General Staff reported that the Russian army tried to advance three times near Lyptsi and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv direction over the past day. In the Kupiansk direction, Russian troops attacked the Ukrainian positions 20 times. 

UPD from 10:38 a.m. of Aug 20, 2024: This news piece has been corrected: Russians aren’t launching as many airstrikes as before in the Kharkiv direction now and Sarantsev is talking about 30-50 airstrikes per day, not 30-40.

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  • In the Kupiansk direction, Russians attacked Ukrainian positions near Synkivka, Hlushkivka, Kolisnykivka, Andriivka, Kruhliakivka, Stelmakhivka, and Berestove 16 times over the past day, reported the General Staff.