UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Aug. 3 — Geolocated footage published on Jul. 30 by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) showed Ukrainian forces striking Russian positions in central, eastern, and southeastern Kozacha Lopan, a settlement in northern Kharkiv oblast. ISW reported that Russians attempted to conduct infiltration missions there.

Russian forces have been attempting to advance near the state border toward Kozacha Lopan since June. Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the group of forces responsible for Kharkiv oblast, described the situation near the settlement as unstable. Russian infiltration groups are constantly entering the area, while Ukrainian forces are killing them.

At the same time, the ISW said that the Russian Northern Grouping of Forces (which is responsible for the situation in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions — ed.) and high military command are likely lying to the Kremlin about the Russian gains in northern Ukraine.

Previous ISW reports noted that the Russian Northern Grouping of Forces claimed it had seized Nova Sich, Mala Slobidka, and Mohrytsya in the Sumy oblast, and Virivka in the Kharkiv oblast. Russians also claimed that they have been occupying a new settlement in their area every day since Jul. 22.

The ISW hasn’t recorded indications that Russian forces have conducted redeployments, concentrated equipment, or intensified offensive operations which would correspond to territory they claim to have seized in recent days.

Analysts said that Russians use a variety of informational tools to support their claims about advances. They are redeploying troops from Sumy to the Kharkiv direction, continuing to attack in small groups, and using artificial intelligence to create videos showing the capture of settlements far from the state border. They are also using mechanized assaults in areas where such operations are dangerous.

Russia is using these tools to falsely portray Russian forces as advancing across the battlefield to convince Ukraine’s partners to abandon their support, ISW says.

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