Russian troops conduct defensive operation with offensive elements - SBU Colonel

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"The entire front line is now in the phase of active operations, and the situation in one direction is closely linked to the other direction. Russian occupation forces are conducting a strategic defense operation with elements of offense. Ukraine continues to conduct the announced offensive operation with elements of defense. The defense forces continue to attack in strategically important areas, although it is quite difficult. After all, the Defense Forces are attacking an enemy that has superior artillery and air power, not to mention mined areas. The Russian troops are stubbornly trying to hold on to their positions in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions. If the offensive of the Defense Forces is successful, the Ukrainian army will have excellent opportunities to liberate the rest of the occupied territories and strike at Russian military facilities in Crimea," Kostenko said.

The SBU colonel emphasized that due to the active offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the South, Russians are trying to become more active in the East

"As soon as the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberate Melitopol, Berdyansk and reach the shores of the Azov Sea, all the logistics of the occupiers through the occupied Crimea will be stopped. Therefore, the Zaporizhzhia direction is very important for the Russians, and they are well aware of this. Given these circumstances, namely the active actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the South, the Russian forces have become more active in the East. In particular, in the Kupyansk direction," he added.

• On August 16, it became known that the Ukrainian military had completely liberated Urozhaine in Donetsk Oblast. The defense forces are consolidating their positions.

• On August 16, the American Institute for the Study of War reported that the Ukrainian military continued to advance in some areas of the front. Thus, the Ukrainian Defense Forces were able to advance in Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions