UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Jul. 17 — Russian forces actively attack in the area near Kozacha Lopan settlement, located about 16 miles north of Kharkiv, said Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the group of forces responsible for Kharkiv oblast.

In June, Trehubov reported on Russia’s first attempts to advance from the Russia-Ukraine border near the Hraniv village toward the Kozacha Lopan settlement.

According to him, Ukrainian troops managed to stop and repel some Russian infantry groups, but Russian forces were still trying to infiltrate, making the situation unstable.

Now, the military said that Ukrainian forces are holding back the Russian army with a drone line and launching a kill zone. But the Russian army uses its numerical superiority.

On Jul. 1, the 425th Assault Regiment, known as Skelia, said its assault units repelled a Russian offensive in Kozacha Lopan and cleared the border area. As of Jul. 17, the regiment continues to report that they ‘destroy’ Russian infiltration attempts in this area. The unit also reported on a cleanup near Hraniv village.

In June, Ukrainian journalists published an investigative report into the Skelia regiment, in which they noted possible cases of abuse, torture, and at least 26 non-combat deaths among service members.

Skelia’s command confirmed 25 of the 26 non-combat deaths, but stated that each case requires a “separate review” and official investigation.

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