Kiev Forces Panic As Russian Army Advances In Kharkiv, Intensifies Strikes (Videos)

File image.

The Russian military has made more gains in the direction of Kharkiv and intensified strikes on Kiev forces there, all while also pushing forward in the Donetsk direction.

On September 22, it was reported that the Sever [North] Group of Forces broke through a Ukrainian defense line located in the forest to the west of Vovchansk. Russian troops bypassed the oil extraction plant, reaching the area between the southern part of the settlement and Synel’nykove nearby.

The group also managed to advance near Otradnoye, capturing a wide area located to the north and northwest of the settlement.

A day earlier, Ukrainian media reported that the Russian military recently intensified strikes in the entire area from Vovchansk to Kupyansk, effectively creating a fire pocket spreading over 45 kilometers from each of these settlements towards the city of Kharkiv.

“The enemy carried out a strike with a wing-type attack UAV [Unmanned Aerial Vehicle] on a car on the dam of the Pechenihy Reservoir, which is about 45 kilometers from the forward edge on the Kupiansk and Vovchansk directions. This in turn creates a certain pocket,” a Ukrainian lieutenant with the callsign “Alex” was quoted as saying.

“The situation is threatening; this is not the first time we have had worrying signals there. In particular, the enemy’s elite UAV units have been operating for a year in the Vovchansk direction at a distance of 20–25 kilometers from the forward edge,” the officer continued.

“If the enemy increases activity and production of wing-type attack drones and mothership-drones, there could be problems,” he added.

Recent combat videos from Kharkiv do show more Russian drone strikes on Kiev forces in this so-called “pocket” and elsewhere in the region. The videos also indicate a possible increase in rocket attacks targeting Ukrainian fortifications in this direction.

Further to the south in Donetsk, the Zapad [West] group of forces is reported to have established a foothold in Yampol, which is located between Lyman and Seversk.

The capture of the settlement, which appears to be nearing, would put all Ukrainian supply lines between Lyman and Seversk in danger. The situation will become especially critical for Kiev forces in Seversk, who will find themselves facing unprecedented pressure from the northern and possibly the western directions.

More advance by the Zapad Group of Forces was also reported to the northwest of Lyman, mainly in Shandrigolovo and surrounding areas.

Combat footage from this part of Donetsk show intense fighting, including Russian drone strikes on Kiev forces and clashes from point blank.

In its daily briefing, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the Sever Group of Forces eliminated “190 troops, a tank, 12 motor vehicles, four artillery guns, and three materiel depots” of Kiev forces in Kharkiv and the direction of Sumy over the past 24 hours.

It also said that “240 troops, 18 motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns including two Western-made guns. A U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-fire radar, 10 electronic warfare stations, and four ammunition depots were neutralized” in Donetsk on the hands of the Zapad Group of Forces during the same period.

All in all, the effectiveness of Ukrainian defense in Kharkiv and Donets appears to be deteriorating as a result of an increase in Russian fire power, especially when it comes to drones. The Russian tactics of shifting focus from one area to another between these two directions also appears to be distracting Kiev forces.

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