UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Aug 19 — In the Kharkiv region, near Lyptsi, there were cases of Russian troops refusing to follow their commanders’ orders, reported the “Kharkiv” group of forces. 

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.)

The “Kharkiv” group of forces reported that near Hlyboke in the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops were replacing personnel at combat positions and conducting evacuation. Some Russian troops were sporadically moving near Starytsia for internal rotation.

In Vovchansk, Russian troops were regrouping assault groups, replenishing ammunition and medical supplies. The Russian army also shelled the central part of the city with a heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A.

The military said that over the past day, in the Kharkiv direction, Russia launched a missile strike and dropped two glide bombs (KABs), launched 57 kamikaze drones and fired 449 times from other weapons at the positions of the Ukrainian forces. 

Also, in the Kharkiv direction, the Russian army lost 120 troops and 86 pieces of equipment over the past day, including one air defense system, seven artillery systems, seven vehicles, eight units of special equipment, and 63 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Read more

  • 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.