No offensive actions have been detected near Kharkiv, and the Russian military is moving to defense and reinforce its state border. Ilya Yevlash, chief of the press service of the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops, said to Espresso.

“The Russian military has brought several Russian Guard units to the border with Kharkiv region. However, these are not assault and combat units, and they are mainly used to break up mass demonstrations and rallies. This replenishment is aimed at strengthening their borders. They are building fortifications and digging in, creating maximum defense lines to make it impossible for Ukraine to act,” Yevlash said.

The situation around Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast is much more challenging

Russian troops are pressing from the flanks and launching frontal attacks near Ivanivske. Their key objective is Chasiv Yar. Heavy fighting continues at the Bakhmut direction, and it is in Ivanivske that the Russian army’s further success and offensive is being decided.

“The situation near Chasiv Yar is very complicated. The Russian military attacked in the area of Ivanivske, using their assault units, artillery, grenade launchers, mortars of various calibres and aviation. However, there were fewer aircraft, and the number of attacks was approximately halved. The Russian army continues to press with assault groups both from the flanks and in the forehead near Bohdanivka and Ivanivske,” said the spokesman.

Ilya Yevlash clarified that the primary goal of the Russian troops is Chasiv Yar, as after Chasiv Yar it will be a continuation of the offensive on Kostiantynivka and the attack on Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration from the southern flank.

The spokesman noted that most of the fighting took place in the Lyman sector over the last day – 18 battles and six in the direction of Chasiv Yar.

More from Gwara

ISW: Russians intensify strikes at Oskil crossing in Kupiansk direction. This may indicate that Russian troops intend to escalate their offensive along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line.

Constant missile attacks and deserted streets: how Kupiansk lives on the front line. It is 10-15 km / 6–9 miles from the front line and 40 km / 25 miles from the border with Russia. The city was severely damaged at the beginning of the full-scale invasion and during the battle for its liberation in September 2022.