UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Sep. 30 — Russian forces recently conducted infiltration missions in Tokarivka village north of Kharkiv, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its assessment.

Earlier, the ISW said that Russian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv oblast near Vovchansk, one of the main targets of a Russian offensive in May 2024.

Analysts said that Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian position along the E-105 Kharkiv—Belgorod highway east of Hoptivka border village. This indicates that the Russians tried to infiltrate the village.

Ukrainian forces continue to disrupt Russian logistics and regrouping in their rear near Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, and Starytsia, the ISW added.

At the same time, the ISW reported on Ukrainian counterattacks southeast of Kupiansk, an important logistics hub in eastern Kharkiv oblast that connects the region with Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

On the Kupiansk axis, Ukrainian forces are effectively intercepting a wide range of Russian drones despite their efforts to change the flight paths. But Russians’ use of jet-powered drones and adverse weather conditions, such as rain and fog, are complicating interception rates. Ukrainian manufacturers are developing new technologies to address these issues, the ISW said, citing a non-commissioned officer from a Ukrainian drone interceptor battery operating on the Kupiansk axis.

Also, in this area, Russian troops were taking civilians out of the Kupiansk community with a gas pipeline running from Shebelynka to Ostrogozk in Russia. According to the 2nd Army Corps, they used Ukrainians as human shields in a direct violation of international humanitarian law. 

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