UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Oct. 6 — Ukrainian forces cleared Russian infiltrators from roughly 10 square kilometers (3.9 square miles) of territory east of Vovchansk in northern Kharkiv oblast, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its assessment.

Vovchansk is a city north of Kharkiv, which is one of the main targets of a Russian offensive in May 2024. Russian attacks back then destroyed the city. Currently, Ukrainian OSINTers mark the city as occupied by Russians.

The ISW analysts, citing a Ukrainian brigade operating in this area, said that Ukrainian forces liberated a forested area northeast of Vovchanski Khutory village. 

Also, Russian forces managed to infiltrate other portions of the same area, while Ukrainian counterattacked, ISW added. The assessment indicated Russian advances in northeastern Vovchansk, north of Vovchanski Khutory and the nearest Zybyne village.

According to analysts, the Russian objective is to push Ukrainian forces back from the international border to create a defensible buffer zone with Belgorod oblast — and approach Kharkiv itself.

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