Military expert Zgurets on Russian army's strategy in Borova area in Kharkiv region

He said this on Espreso TV.

"The Russian army is now conducting offensive actions on a much wider frontline, not only in the Borova area. Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions remain the Russian priority. However, all sections of the front are interconnected in some way. When we talk about the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna axis, this area has been and remains a priority for the Russians for a long time. After all, the Russians want to push Ukrainian troops across the Oskil River in this entire area. One of the elements of this overall strategy is the accumulation of Russian forces in the Borova area. Russia's plan is to split the Ukrainian Armed Forces group holding positions from Kupyansk to Kreminna into two sections and control the Borova area, complicating the logistics of Ukrainian forces. But now this is just one of the areas where the enemy will try to advance," the analyst said.

Analyzing the size of the Russian forces, Zgurets noted that the enemy will implement a strategy where a significant number of infantry, supported by artillery, will try to break through to Borova: "The Russian western grouping from Kupyansk to Kreminna is about 110 thousand personnel. About 10,000 personnel are concentrated in the area of the Borova offensive. There are 450 units of military equipment, half of which is artillery."

Zgurets reported that Russian forces were attempting to break through to higher ground to facilitate movement towards Borova.

"The two settlements are actually up there. There is a ridge between Borova. From the area where the Russians are trying to advance, there is a hill to which the enemy is trying to get through. From there it will be easier to move on to Borova. Although all these are theoretical calculations, the area remains extremely important. Now the Russian troops have amassed a significant number of personnel and artillery there, and this has already become public knowledge. Therefore, this will influence the Ukrainian General Staff to strengthen this section of the front. This was done before because the risk of an offensive in the Borova area was clear," he added.

• On June 18, Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops, said that the Russian occupiers plan to deploy Pacific Fleet marines to the area of Vovchansk, Kharkiv region.