UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Aug 21 — In Vovchansk, the Russian army has restricted the movement of personnel at night, intensified aerial reconnaissance of the advance routes, and is preparing for an assault, 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.)

According to the military, the situation in the Kharkiv direction is tense. The Russian army is conducting active assault operations to restore the tactical situation.

“The enemy regrouped the personnel of the assault groups of the 11th Tank Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division near Hlyboke and is evacuating the wounded. There is a food shortage on the frontlines [on the Russian side — ed.],” the military reported.

Near Lukiantsi, the Russian military moved the personnel of the assault groups of the 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps to the frontlines. Mortar crews were reinforced in the area. However, the military notes that there are cases of Russian troops refusing to perform combat tasks.

Near Starytsia, Buhruvatka, and Ohirtseve, the Russian army is carrying out works on engineering equipment and camouflaging positions, reports “Kharkiv.”

Over the past day, the Russian military carried out one airstrike in the Kharkiv direction using one glide bomb (KAB), 52 strikes with kamikaze drones and fired 357 times at the positions of the Ukrainian army. 

The Russian army lost 124 troops in the Kharkiv direction over the day, reported the “Kharkiv” group of forces. Also, the Ukrainian troops destroyed 91 pieces of weapons and military equipment in the Kharkiv direction, including seven artillery systems, 15 vehicles, six special equipment units, and 63 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

They also destroyed 85 Russian shelters, one UAV control center, three ammunition storage sites, and one fuel and oil storage site.

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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.