UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Sep. 16 — Russian forces continued limited offensive operations in northern Kharkiv oblast as Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Kozacha Lopan settlement, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.

At the beginning of September, Russia claimed it had advanced in northern Kharkiv oblast, e.g., occupied Kozacha Lopan. Vitalii Sarantsev, a spokesperson for the 14th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, denied that information.

Also, the ISW said that Ukrainian forces maintain control of Blahodatne, northeast of Kharkiv, and of Nefedivka and Chorne, both east of Blahodatne.

On the Kupiansk axis, Russian forces attempted to narrow a Ukrainian bridgehead southeast of Kupiansk.

Viktor Trehubov, the press officer of the military group responsible for the Kharkiv oblast, said during a national telethon that Russian forces are increasing their efforts along the left bank of the Oskil river in the Kivsharivka direction, southeast of Kupiansk.

Trehubov said that Russian forces are largely unable to maintain positions on the right bank of the Oskil closer to Kupiansk itself and are losing territory to Ukrainian forces. He added that Russian forces likely lack the capacity to launch a large-scale offensive in the coming weeks, but the situation could change if the Russian military command allocates more personnel to this effort.

Read more

  • ​​Gazprom financed deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, Ombudsman says

 ⛈️ Winter is coming, and, for Ukraine, it is predicted to be awful. Please support our Kharkiv-based newsroom with a $5 coffee to help us withstand whatever Russia has prepared for us.