Russian forces try to push Ukrainian troops beyond Oskil River in Kupiansk sector - military expert

He shared this information speaking on Espreso TV. 

"The situation in the Kupiansk sector is very difficult. The enemy has concentrated a lot of resources in this area. In particular, Serhiy Cherevatyi reported that up to 100,000 people have been deployed along this frontline," said Selezniov.

The expert emphasized that the Russian troops are trying to create conditions for an offensive on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

"It is very important for the Russians to push our troops beyond the Oskil River and build a defense on the left bank. They are also trying to drive our units out of the Luhansk region. We are talking about our bridgehead near Bilohorivka. In this way, they are trying to create conditions for an offensive towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Whether they will succeed is a matter of debate. Because our Defense Forces are also actively countering the enemy there. The Russians are suffering losses, but the fighting is very heavy," he added.

Russian army's offensive in the Kupiansk area

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.