Ukraine's Vovchansk is in ruins, but Russia keeps attacking in small groups - Ukrainian forces
Photo: Vovchansk is destroyed, but Russian forces continue to assault in small groups (Getty Images)
In the Kharkiv region, the enemy remains most active around the Vovchansk area. The city is completely destroyed, yet Russian forces continue their assaults in small infantry groups, stated Pavlo Shamshyn, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Operational-Tactical Group of Forces.
"The enemy is especially active, as usual, in the area of Vovchansk and surrounding settlements. Enemy assault actions are happening there almost daily. The Russians mostly attack in small infantry groups of three to five soldiers, under the cover of drones. Vovchansk itself, as a city suitable for living, no longer exists. It has been completely destroyed — not a single building remains intact. Yet despite this, the Russians continue their assault operations there," said Shamshyn.
He added that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are still holding a section on the northern bank of the Vovcha River, particularly on the territory of the engineering plant. Currently, the Russian troops are making every effort to push Ukrainian units beyond the natural barrier of the Vovcha — that is, to the southern bank. However, they have not succeeded.
The situation also remains tense near the settlement of Dvorichna, where Russian troops are trying to expand their foothold on the western bank of the Oskil River.
"Assault actions also take place there almost daily, especially around Dvorichna, Kamianka, Fyhulivka, Krasne Pershe, and Stroivka. But to pose a real threat to Kupiansk from the north, along the right bank, the Russians would need to install pontoon crossings over the Oskil and establish logistics routes," the spokesperson noted.
According to Shamshyn, there was a recent attempt to set up pontoon crossings, but like previous ones, it ended in failure. Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance spotted the approaching equipment, and specialized enemy vehicles were destroyed.
The enemy has also stepped up efforts toward Lyptsi, trying to regain lost positions in the so-called Berlin forest massif, as the Russian soldiers call it.
Shamshyn added that in this sector of the front, Russian forces are hardly using either heavy or light military vehicles, as they are immediately destroyed.
Situation at the front
According to the General Staff, 176 combat engagements took place at the front over the past day. Russian troops are actively attacking in the Pokrovsk, Lyman and Toretsk directions.
The Russian army launched one missile and 55 air strikes, using 5 missiles, 75 guided bombs, and 2,798 kamikaze drones. In addition, the enemy made 5,062 artillery attacks, 114 of which were from multiple launch rocket systems.
In response, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck 22 areas of concentration of enemy manpower and equipment, 2 control points, 6 rocket and artillery assets, and 1 important target of the Russian army.
