Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Kharkhov
Most recents (4)
Massive forest fire has broken out south of #Andriivka (Kharkhov oblast), due to #Russian shelling. This intensity of fire ensures that in this sector, UA forces have been forced south of the Siverskyi donets river. This is an important part of the front, as RU forces have tried 
to push #Ukrainian forces south of the river and away from the main R78 highway and more importantly the railway (#Izium - #Kharkhov). UA forces have learned to very stubbornly & effectively cling to forested areas. In fact most of the active front today is along the forest belt
between Kharkhov and Lugansk. UA forces do not do well in open terrain, nor do they wield field units that can maneuver in them, but they do defend doggedly in urban centers, prepared entrenchments, and dense forest. The combination of the long river and dense forest on its banks
A word on Ukraine's favorite front, the #Kharkhov front. Wanting to first comment on the more critical areas, did not get a chance yet to comment on this upon my return, but may be indicative of a significant change. Until now, as hard as it might be to believe, the official
territorial claims of both countries, specifically the MoDs has been relatively accurate and matching. Of course with plenty of exceptions, especially when there is still fighting in a town or city, one or both parties have prematurely claimed control over it. And while Ukrainian
military claims & PR efforts can be & often are fantastical (Ghost of Kiev, Snake Island etc), & both MoDs have been known to issue incorrect information, what I am referring to is that there has not been widely differing claims (of many kilometers & several towns/cities deep)
The #Russian counterattack in #Kharkhov aims to cut off Ukrainian troops that advanced too far north and east from the city. It is aiming for the Kharkhov - Staryi Saltiv road (T2014) and to retake a town around Cherkaksi and/or Ruski Tyshky, trapping UA forces north of that all
the way to Lyptsi. The reason this is possible is because there is a dense forest on the west flank of the Kharkhov - Lyptsi road. The troops could be fully or semi trapped because of this as there are no major, even secondary roads through the forest. Whether troop encirclements
Note the Russian shelling so far south of the front line as of yesterday. Two days ago the front was even further north, as Ternova & Rubizhne were captured by Russia in the beginning of this counteroffensive. The front is sparse with units and RU had been tactically withdrawing.
#Ukraine has launched an offensive with powerful weapons in the #Kharkhov area. Perhaps it is new western artillery, perhaps it is launching missiles such as Tochka U as well. The thermal footprints are intense. There are reports that UA forces crossed at Staryi Saltiv, captured
Zarichne & are advancing northwards. These same reports indicate a second crossing near Rubizhne towards Verkhnia Pysarivka. Thermal data confirms intense shelling at Zarichne, around 28 hours ago & all at once. More recently we have similar weapons being used against #Metalivka.
This could mean that Zarichne was captured and the UA forces are moving northwards. It could also mean however that the shelling is being done from further away & from the west bank. The crossing is very wide and the standing bridge was destroyed earlier in the war.
