UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Mar 25 — Russians are probably trying to create a land corridor along the Oskil River in Kharkiv Oblast, suggested Ruslan Mykula, a co-founder of analytical OSINT project DeepState in the ether of Suspilne, Ukrainian media.

Currently, there are heavy fighting in the northeast of the Kharkiv region, on the Kupiansk axis—on Mar 23, war tracking map of DeepState marked Russian advance near Kamianka and Topoli settlements there. 

Mykola says a land corridor would be necessary for Russian troops to lessen the losses of transporting personnel and military equipment across the river. 

“They’ve already drowned armored personnel carriers, motorcycles. All their attempts to get their equipment to the west bank [of Oskil] ended in failure. For them, this land corridor could become an option to further develop the offensive with light and armored [military] equipment,” Mykula explained. 

He also said that Ukrainian troops liberated territories near Zapadne and Fyholivka, also on the Kupiansk axis. Armed Forces work there to prevent Russia from further advancing. 

“Combat is ongoing near Topolia, Krasne Pershe, and to the north of Kamianka. It’s been reported that there has been an issue with the [Ukrainian] unit that was being redeployed. Now, [its battalion] is on the defensive positions. Organizational changes began in that section [of the frontline], and adequate decisions started to be made,” Mykula said. 

Russian attacks on Kupiansk intensified in September, as Moscow’s troops ramped up the assaults towards the Oskil River in that region and managed to reach the outskirts of the city. 

While the Ukrainian army fought them off Kupiansk itself, Russia has gained ground in several areas of the Kupiansk axis since.

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