Russians could temporarily left Robotyne - ISW battle maps, August 19
Ukrainian military (photo: GettyImages)
Russian forces may have temporarily left Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region, with the northern part of the settlement now under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
The situation in Luhansk and Kharkiv regions
Russian Forces continued offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line and reportedly advanced on August 18. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Synkivka (8 km northeast of Kupiansk), Kyslivka (20 km southeast of Kupiansk), and Bilohorivka (12 km south of Kreminna).
Artem Lysohor, the Head of the Luhansk region, announced that on August 17, Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to advance toward Bilohorivka. Russian Forces also use the rapid-response units "Storm Z" with convicted personnel to probe Ukrainian defenses in this sector of the front.
Former spokesperson of the so-called "DPR" (Donetsk People's Republic), Eduard Basurin, claimed that Russian forces on August 18 advanced along the Synkivka-Ivanivka line (up to 20 km southeast of Kupiansk) and in the direction of Petropavlivka (7 km east of Kupiansk). A Russian military blogger asserted that Russian Forces control Pershotravneve (21 km east of Kupiansk) and continue to advance in this area. Another Russian "war correspondent" stated that Russian forces continued offensive actions near Synkivka.
Ukrainian Forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kremenna line but did not advance on August 18. Yaroslav Yakimkin, a representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Western Group of Russian Forces, stated that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Synkivka, Vilshany (15 km northeast of Kupiansk), the area of Mankivka (approximately 15 km east of Kupiansk), Novoselivka (14 km northwest of Svatove), Berestove in the Kharkiv region (20 km northwest of Svatove), Hryhorivka (11 km south of Kremenna), Dybrovy (7 km southwest of Kreminna), and Berestove (30 km south of Kreminna).
Russian military bloggers claimed on August 17 and 18 that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked the Serebriansky Forestry area (10 km southwest of Kreminna), and Ukrainian infantry carried out unsuccessful attacks near Torske (15 km west of Kreminna).
Fightings on Donbas
On August 18, Ukrainian Forces continued their offensive in the area of Bakhmut but did not advance. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian Forces continued their offensive operations to the south of Bakhmut and consolidated their positions. Russian sources claimed that Russian forces repelled an attack by Ukrainian armored vehicles with artillery support near Klishchiivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut).
A Russian military blogger associated with the Kremlin stated that the situation on the southern flank of Bakhmut remains tense, despite an overall decrease in the intensity of hostilities in this area.
On August 18, Russian Forces conducted ground attacks near Bakhmut but did not make any claimed or confirmed advances. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian Forces carried out unsuccessful offensive operations to the northwest of Dubov-Vasylivka (6 km northwest of Bakhmut), as well as near Bohdanivka (6 km northwest of Bakhmut) and Bila Hora (12 km southwest of Bakhmut).
Russian sources stated that Russian forces unsuccessfully counterattacked from Dubov-Vasylivka towards Bohdanivka. The Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, claimed that units of the Chechen special forces "Akhmat" continue to operate in the Klishchiivka direction and stated that Russian forces fully control Klishchiivka. The Russian Ministry of Defense published footage claiming that units of the Russian 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade (VDV) are operating near Klishchiivka.
On August 18, Ukrainian Forces continued offensive actions along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line but did not make any claimed or confirmed advances. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces continued to repel Russian advances near Marinka (on the southwestern outskirts of Donetsk) and Krasnohorivka (directly west of Donetsk). The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that units of the Russian Southern Military District repelled Ukrainian attacks near Avdiivka and Marinka.
Russian Forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line on August 18 but did not make any confirmed advances. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian Forces carried out unsuccessful offensive operations near Keramika (14 km northeast of Avdiivka) and to the southeast and east of Novokalynove (13 km northeast of Avdiivka).
Russian sources claimed that on August 17, Russian Forces conducted offensive operations on the northern flank of Avdiivka in the direction of Keramika and asserted that Russian Forces had captured unspecified Ukrainian positions in that area.
"Southern Axis"
On August 18, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Russian Forces repelled a Ukrainian attack near Mykilske, located 27 kilometers to the southwest of Donetsk in the Donetsk region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Forces continued their offensive operations in the border region between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and made advances on August 18. Geolocation images published on August 17 and 18 show that Ukrainian Forces were advancing to the southeast of Urozhaine, which is situated 9 kilometers to the south of Velyka Novosilka, along the T0518 highway (Velyka Novosilka-Staromlynivka).
The Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian Forces attacked near Urozhaine and advanced towards Kermenchyk, which is located 15 kilometers southeast of Velyka Novosilka. Russian "war correspondents" reported the continuation of combat operations near Pryutne (15 kilometers southwest of Velyka Novosilka), Urozhaine, and Zavitne Bazhannia (12 kilometers south of Velyka Novosilka).
It is reported that Russian forces continued limited offensive operations in the area along the border between Donetsk and Zaporizhia Oblasts but did not make any significant progress on August 18th. The General Staff of Ukraine stated that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to regain lost positions near Urozhainoye and Novodarivka (15 kilometers southwest of Velyka Novosilka).
Ukrainian Forces continued offensive operations in the western border region of Zaporizhzhia region and reportedly made advances on August 18. Some Russian military bloggers claimed that Ukrainian Forces had advanced into northern Robotyne (10 kilometers south of Orikhove).
One "war correspondent" claimed that Russian Forces had "temporarily left" Robotyne and asserted that fighting was ongoing to the south of the settlement. Other military bloggers claimed that Russian Forces repelled Ukrainian attacks and that Ukrainian Forces did not control any part of Robotyne.
Geolocation images published on August 17 and 18 show Ukrainian Forces maintaining positions in northern Robotyne, despite Russia's claims to the contrary. Russian sources also reported Ukrainian attacks near Novopokrovka (16 kilometers southeast of Orikhove).
A Ukrainian official noted that the Russian authorities are trying to compensate for the traffic and damage to the bridge across the Kerch Strait. The Head of the United Coordinating Press Centre of Security and Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, Natalia Humeniuk, stated that the Crimean Bridge still cannot reliably accommodate transportation and that the Russian authorities maintain special schedules and occasionally block road and rail traffic over the bridge to prevent overloading.
