Russians on why Kupyansk is a very important location for both Russians and Ukrainians: it is a major railway junction feeding the whole North East direction of the frontline. Taking (or even shelling) it would result in Russia's inability to replenish troops.
Over 30% liberated, from Balakliia to Kupyansk, 100km in 3 days. 🇷🇺 sources reporting another offensive south of Izium. Izium is almost isolated (only 1 route left).
Reports of 🇷🇺 237th Guards Air Assault Regiment ceased to exist, another motorised regiment abandoned by commanders, looking for a chance to surrender.
The UAF continue advancing and liberating more towns - 50km square advance in 48h. In general, there is excellent news from the counteroffensive but not all the towns can be mentioned due to ongoing operations.
🇷🇺 is trying to direct the reserves to the Kharkiv region from the 🇷🇺 territory to try to prevent 🇺🇦 advance. Nevertheless, these reserves may not be enough, as neither the counteroffensive can be stopped by a couple of BTG nor the supply lines can be easily & timely restored.
🔥 Battlefield update:
🔥 Balakliia:
🇷🇺 sources are terrified, talking that 🇺🇦 have captured Volokhiv Yar and cut the road to Kupiansk.
Reports of Balakliia being surrounded by 🇺🇦, lost comms, images of bloody clothing saying SOBR (🇷🇺 special forces). 🇺🇦 can not confirm or deny this.
🔥 Izium:
🇷🇺 sources telling that 🇺🇦 has captured Dohvenke, which is slightly elevated, providing good view.
It almost looks like encirclement of whole 🇷🇺 Izium group from 🇷🇺 sources. Current 🇷🇺 Izium supply routes can be compared to Kherson – they somehow exist, but don’t satisfy needs. If 🇺🇦 reaches Kupiansk, then even those supply routes are taken away.
"Serious trouble" has befallen the Russian soldiers near Balakliya. They are, quoting Arestovich "totally f#cked".
The Russians have retreated to the east of Balakliya. Russian reserves are being redeployed there by the high command but "a lot of surprises await them there". There are a lot of Russian POWs and KIA.
The Ukrainian offensive in Balakliya threatens Izyum, and if Ukrainian artillery can be positioned in Balakliya, they can reach Kup'yansk. This is the main supply artery of all the Russian troops in the Izyum/northeast Donbas area.
🧵 This document describing the situation in the occupied Kherson was found on Telegram, shared by the neo-nazi group "Rusich" which is taking part in the war in Ukraine. The original can be found here: telegra.ph/Strah-i-nenavi…
The post mentions the contempt of locals resident of Kherson towards invaders, and we presume the author is one of the Russian military given their mention of wearing camouflage. We added some comments with clarifications to the text:
"It is difficult to put together all the thoughts and impressions of Kherson.
Arestovich reminds us that he only reveals information already available in open sources, and that has already been officially announced in order to not accidentally cause any harm.
🔥 Battlefield update
🔥 Kherson area: The UAF have taken Vysokopillya, Pot'omkyne and Ol'hyne.
The Russians have fallen back to Novopetrivka. The UAF has taken DNR army POWs and this is good because they can be exchanged for Ukrainians in Russian captivity.