Russia forms 12 assault companies to break through Ukrainian defense

He said this on Espreso TV. 

"Now I can inform you that the enemy is forming 12 assault companies that will continue to try to break through our defense. This is about 2,000 soldiers who are now finalizing their formation. However, our guys are reliably holding the line, including in the Lyman-Kupyansk direction, where Azov units are operating," noted the head of the press service.

Ilia Yevlash added that Ukrainian fighters handed him the passports of Russian soldiers who had been captured. These are representatives of the Russian Federation. That is, despite being heavily shelled, they still continue to advance.

"The enemy is keeping quite powerful forces in the Lyman-Kupyansk sector, using its modern equipment, such as BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and T-90 tanks. The enemy focuses mainly on artillery. There have been no combat engagements there now, after the invading forces have been given a sock on the jaw. However, the enemy opened fire on our trenches 552 times over the last day, and also carried out 17 air strikes. The highest intensity of the enemy's attacks was observed in the Kreminna sector, where Russian troops made 190 attacks. The situation was also hot near Bilohorivka and Rozdolivka, where the enemy used artillery 150 times," the serviceman said.

Yevlash emphasized that Ukrainian defenders are effectively destroying enemy equipment. Over the past day, 61 Russian soldiers were killed, and a Strela-10 surface-to-air missile system was destroyed.

• On September 19, Oles Maliarevych, a sergeant with the UAV strike company of the 92nd Detached Mechanized Brigade, noted that in the Kupyansk-Svatove sector, the enemy is trying to regain positions on the left bank of the Oskil River.
• On September 20, the General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had destroyed a Russian Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue an offensive operation in the Melitopol sector and offensive and assault operations in the Bakhmut sector.
• Defense Express military expert Ivan Kyrychevskyi also believes that the Russian troops may be preparing to resume offensive actions in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction.