UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Oct 18 — Recently, fighters from the DIU and the 13th National Guard Brigade “Khartia” cleared 400 hectares of forest in the north of the Kharkiv region and almost destroyed a regiment of the Russian army, reported Volodymyr Dehtiarov, a spokesman for the 13th National Guard Brigade “Khartia”, on Ukrainian TV.

Russia started its new offensive north and northeast in the Kharkiv region in May, but Ukrainian troops have stabilized the frontline in this section since. Now, heavy battles are ongoing in and around Vovchansk (three miles from the border, 46 miles away from Kharkiv) and near Lyptsi (six miles from the border, 12 miles from Kharkiv.)

During the operation, “Khartia” troops killed more than 200 Russian soldiers and injured more than 300, said Volodymyr Dehtiarov.

“Khartia” fighters also hit dozens of fortifications in various ways and neutralized dozens of vehicles. In recent weeks, the enemy has mostly had to bring their reinforcements on foot, as we managed to cut off most logistics routes,” he said.

On October 17, Anton Baiev, head of the planning department of the 13th National Guard Brigade “Khartia”, said on Ukrainian TV that during an operation north of Lyptsi in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian Defense Forces captured at least 20 Russian troops. 

Among them were Wagner PMC troops who had previously participated in combat in the Bakhmut direction.

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  • Russian troops have advanced in the area near the village of Kolisnykivka in the Kurylivka community, which is 24 miles from the city of Kupiansk, reported the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Kyiv hasn’t confirmed this information as of October 16.