Russian command is lying to Putin about gains in Kharkiv and Sumy regions, ISW says
Photo: Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
The Russian military command is misleading dictator Vladimir Putin about the scale of its gains in northern Ukraine, claiming that Russian forces are making significant advances in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Analysts note that Russian forces have claimed almost daily, since at least July 22, that they have captured a new settlement in the Kharkiv or Sumy regions.
On July 29, for example, Russia claimed to have captured Nova Sich, while on July 30 it claimed to have captured Mala Slobidka and Mohrytsia in the Sumy region, as well as Virovka in the Kharkiv region.
"ISW has not observed indications that Russian forces have conducted the necessary quantity of force redeployments, equipment concentration, or intensified offensive operations commensurate with the amount of territory they are claiming to have seized in recent days," the report says.
Ukraine's Defense Forces have also rejected Russian claims that Russian troops captured Mala Slobidka, Mohrytsia and Nova Sich.
Russian infantry continues to conduct infiltration missions in the north, while Russian servicemen continue to record videos and use artificial intelligence to alter or create footage showing Russian soldiers holding flags in settlements that Russian forces may have entered only briefly in order to falsely claim that they captured them, the report says.
ISW notes that the Kremlin is using these claims of battlefield gains to convince the United States and other Western countries that Russia's war is progressing so successfully that the West should abandon its support for Ukraine.
At the same time, analysts point out that Ukrainian forces are carrying out attacks in some areas of northern Ukraine, contradicting Russia's narrative of an unopposed advance across the entire theater of operations.
Ukrainian forces have liberated Odradne in the Kharkiv region, according to ISW's assessment.
In addition, Ukrainian forces launched counterattacks near Nova Sich, Mohrytsia, Ivolzhanske and Pysarivka, slowing Russian advances in these areas.
Russia's fabricated claims of "capturing" Ukrainian territory
Russian forces recently claimed to have "captured" Nova Sich in the Sumy region. However, the village remains under the control of Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Russia also recently falsely claimed to have "occupied" the village of Rizdvyanka in the Zaporizhzhia region, but the claim was quickly debunked.
The enemy also claimed to have "captured" Hlushkivka in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine's military immediately denied the report.
Earlier, Russian propaganda outlets spread a fake claim that Russian forces had captured the settlement of Ternuvate in the Zaporizhzhia region.
