Russians focus on Kupyansk direction and transfer reserves to Bakhmut

This was announced by the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

"The enemy is moving more troops towards the Bakhmut area, trying to stop our progress. They have also gathered their main forces on the Kupyansk side, where Ukrainian soldiers are defending."

Syrskyi mentioned that the Defense Forces are still carrying out tasks in the Eastern direction. The situation there is tough, but it's under control.

"We will keep on fighting, and we will win," he emphasized.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also stated that the Defense Forces are continuing their offensive operation in three key areas: Melitopol, Berdyansk, and Bakhmut. Our troops have secured their positions at the borders they reached and are countering enemy artillery attacks.

In the Mala Tokmachka - Novopokrovka and Velyka Novosilka - Urozhayne directions, the AFU troops have achieved success and consolidated their positions.

Meanwhile, in the Bakhmut direction, our soldiers are still launching offensive actions both to the north and south of the city. The enemy is resisting fiercely, using reserves, and suffering significant losses. There are heavy ongoing battles in that area.

Russian offensive in the Kupyansk direction

On July 16, Hanna Maliar, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, reported that the situation in the east has gotten more intense. The enemy has been aggressively advancing towards Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region for two consecutive days.

Maliar mentioned that the Armed Forces in that area are defending themselves, engaging in intense battles where the positions of both sides change multiple times throughout the day.

On July 17, Oleksandr Skoryk, a deputy of the Kharkiv Regional Council, stated that the Russian army is still launching counteroffensive actions in the Kupyansk direction. He mentioned that the Russians are attacking with significant force, making it challenging for our defenders to hold their ground. Unfortunately, there has been progress on their part, which has been confirmed by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, later confirmed the Russian army's transition to the offensive in the Kupyansk direction. He highlighted that the enemy's objective is to defeat the Ukrainian troops in the Kupyansk region and continue their offensive deeper into our battle formations.

Furthermore, Maliar discussed on Telegram that after the failure of the plan to capture Kyiv, the Kremlin instructed its military to move towards the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. They began to panic following the successful Ukrainian offensive in Bakhmut. She mentioned that the Russians moved towards Kupyansk to divert attention, as they have done before, but their efforts were in vain.

During the morning briefing on July 18, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the enemy army is focusing its main efforts on the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions. There were 36 combat clashes in those areas during the previous day.

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding the defense in the Kupyansk direction. The enemy's offensives west of the Lyman Pershyi in the Kharkiv Region were unsuccessful.