Russia storms three directions in Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian Armed Forces hold their lines

Andriy Kanashevych, acting head of the Kupiansk regional military administration in Kharkiv region, told Espreso TV channel.

"The situation remains quite tense. The enemy is constantly conducting assault operations along almost the entire contact line between Dvorichna and Petropavlivka communities. Active hostilities are taking place from Dvorichna to Kyslivka and from Kyslivka to Berestove," said Kanashevych.

He added that Kyslivka is constantly under air strikes, and they are also taking place in the area of Berestove.

"Conventional artillery and mortars are added to this. All settlements up to 5 km from the front line are constantly under fire. The most active hostilities are in the direction of Berestove, Kyslivka and the third direction - the settlement of Pershyi Lyman. The Ukrainian Armed Forces remain on their lines, holding the defence and giving a proper response. The enemy has suffered significant losses in these areas," the official summed up.

Russian army offensive in the Kupyansk sector

On July 16, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported that the situation in the east had escalated - the Russian forces had been actively advancing in the Kupiansk direction in the Kharkiv region for two days in a row.

Maliar noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are on the defensive in this area, there are fierce battles, and the position of the parties is changing dynamically several times a day.

On July 17, Kharkiv Regional Council member Oleksandr Skoryk said that the Russian army continues to conduct counteroffensives in the Kupiansk sector. According to him, the Russian troops are counterattacking with very powerful forces, so it is difficult for Ukrainian defenders to hold the line. Unfortunately, they are making progress, and this is confirmed by the General Staff. 

Later, the Russian army's launch of an offensive in the Kupiansk sector was confirmed by the commander of the Ukrainian Army, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi. He noted that the enemy has set itself the goal of defeating Ukrainian troops in the Kupiansk area and continuing the offensive deep into our combat formations.

On Telegram, Maliar said that after the failure of the plan to seize Kyiv, the Kremlin ordered its military to reach the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and after the successful offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Bakhmut, they panicked. According to her, the Russians moved to the Kupiansk direction to divert attention, as they have done many times before, but in vain.

In its morning report on July 18, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff noted that the Russian army was attacking in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions, with 36 combat engagements taking place there over the past day.

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian troops are holding steady in the Kupiansk sector. The enemy conducted unsuccessful offensives west of Lyman Pershyi in the Kharkiv region. 

On Tuesday, July 18, it was reported that the Russian army had concentrated its main efforts in the Kupiansk direction and was continuing its offensive, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces were holding the line. The enemy is moving reserves to the Bakhmut direction to stop the advance of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

On July 19, it was reported that the Defence Forces continued to conduct a counter-offensive in at least three areas of the frontline. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces made tactical gains along the border of Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

On July 22, the General Staff reported that Ukrainian soldiers were holding steady in the Kupiansk sector. Krasne Pershe, Novomlynsk, Kupiansk, Novoosynove and Synkivka in the Kharkiv region came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

On 26 July, the General Staff reported that Ukrainian soldiers were restraining the enemy in the Kupiansk sector.