Update from Oct. 3, 6:03: Headline fixed. It’s the Ukrainian military who talked about Russians using small infantry groups, not the ISW.

UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Oct. 3 — Geolocation footage published on Oct. 2 shows that the Russian troops advanced in the northwestern part of Vovchansk. These advances were spotted west of the oil extraction plant, reported the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). 

Vovhcansk, a city to the north of Kharkiv, was one of the main targets of Russian ground offensive from the north launched in May 2024. Russian attacks back then have completely destroyed the city — now, Ukraine’s army is fighting to prevent Russia from advancing beyond the Vovcha River. 

Geolocation footage of the Russian advances published on Oct. 2 / Source: ISW
Geolocation footage of the Russian advances published on Oct. 2 / Source: ISW

Russia uses small infantry groups in Vovchansk for sabotage and assault operations, said Oleksander Bortin, soldier of the border guard service of the Hart brigade to Kyiv24, a Ukrainian TV-channel. 

He added that, even though these groups are quickly “destroyed,” they still bring “a lot of unpleasantness” to Ukraine’s soldiers. 

ISW analysts also reported no Russian advances on the Kupiansk and Borova axes. 

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