UKRAINE, VOVCHANSK DISTRICT, Aug 26 — Russian troops don’t stop their attempts to break through Ukrainian defences in Kharkiv Oblast, particularly near Vovchansk, reports Roman Kosse, the head of press office for “Forpost” brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine in the national telethon. 

Kosse adds that, if Ukraine destroys Russia’s military equipment, their infantry gets on foot and continues their assaults to force Ukrainian soldiers to engage in the firefight.  

After Ukraine’s army stopped the Russian ground assault on Kharkiv from the north, Vovchansk, a city that was one of Moscow’s targets during May 2024, became a battleground for intense fighting. Most of the city is currently destroyed. 

“The combat is constant,” Kosse says. “The enemy tries to seize any territory, it doesn’t matter if it’s on the Vovchansk axis or elsewhere. They use reconnaissance drones, infantry, and military equipment. Currently, they mostly assault in small groups, on motorcycles, buggies, or quadracycles.” 

Russian tactics haven’t changed since spring, Kosse says, explaining that their main approach is to operate with small infantry troops. “There are cases when (their) infantry is led to the treelines using drones, after which they receive an order to conduct an assault.” 

On Aug 24, Institute for the Study of War (ISW) released an assessment that confirmed, through geolocation, Russian advance in the central Vovchansk. 

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