Ukrainian Armed Forces hold Kupiansk direction: initiative remains on Ukraine's side - company commander Fedorenko

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"The enemy continues to carry out attack and assault operations, trying to find weaknesses in the defense of the Armed Forces, but is not successful. The initiative is still with the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Ukrainian defenders are doing incredible things from a defensive point of view around the clock, using tricks on the enemy to keep the front line stable," emphasized Fedorenko.

According to the commander, all defensive and offensive operations by the Ukrainian Defense Forces are planned carefully and masterfully resolved on the battlefield.

"Aerial reconnaissance is working well, we can see the enemy. Artillerymen are accurately striking the enemy, counter-battery combat is underway. Enemy guns and ammunition depots are being destroyed. In the Kupiansk-Svatove direction, strike-type UAVs are being effectively used. The Defense Forces are holding the line and the initiative continues to be on our side," noted Fedorenko.

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 became known 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.