Russian troops advance in three frontline areas in Luhansk region – military expert Zgurets

Military expert Serhiy Zgurets stated this on Espreso. 

"There are three areas in the section of Kupyansk–Svatove–Kreminna. Right now, the main enemy activity is happening around Karmazynivka, a village in the Svatove district. A few days ago, the enemy reached the right bank of the Zherebets River and is trying to expand this area. This region is in the middle of the front, stretching from Kupyansk to Kreminna. The Russian troops in this middle area are trying to advance towards Borova to cut off our forces located between the Zherebets and Oskil rivers," he explained. 

Zgurets added that the General Staff has decided to increase Ukrainian forces in the area to block the enemy's advance towards Novoyehorivka from Karmazynivka. Intense fighting is taking place there, and we have increased the number of artillery to attack the enemy at the crossing of the Zherebets River and other places. This area remains highly tense.

"The enemy is also putting significant pressure in the Torske and Zarichne areas, including the Serebryanske Forestry. We have enough forces here, but the enemy group is powerful and has tanks from the 1st Tank Army of the Russian Federation. This part of the front will likely be intense for a while. The Russians are trying hard to make progress in areas like Torske, Karmazynivka, and Novoyehorivka, but there haven't been significant changes on this front. The Ukrainian side is taking countermeasures to prevent further enemy advances," said Zgurets.

Russian army's offensive in the Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk, 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 Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk 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 Kupyansk sector. Krasne Pershe, Novomlynsk, Kupyansk, Novoosynove and Synkivka in the Kharkiv region came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.