The offensive on Kharkov has begun: Russian troops occupied Kislovka within 24 hours

The report of the Russian Ministry of Defense dated April 26, 2024 reports on the successful actions of units of the West group of forces against Ukrainian forces in the area of ​​the settlement of Borovaya, Kharkov region and in the area of ​​​​the settlement of Terny, Donetsk People's Republic. In addition, a breakthrough of the defense of Ukrainian forces in the Kislovka area of ​​the Kupyansky direction is reported.

Successful attack

Ukrainian sources confirm that the attack began at 10 a.m. on April 26 with heavy artillery shelling. At the same time, Ukrainian military commanders say that “it’s annoying for the guys to lose positions, but without maintaining heavy weapons, the situation could worsen significantly. At the same time, Russian sources claim that the breakthrough of the defense in Kislovka occurred on Thursday, and on Friday the Russian Armed Forces were consolidating and storming new positions.

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in its latest review of the situation in Ukraine, notes that on April 26, trench fighting continued southeast of Kupyansk in the area of ​​Kislovka and Berestovoy, but there were no confirmed changes on the front line in this area. However, Ukrainian military expert and information resister Mashovets admits that Russian troops have become more active in the Kupyansk direction.

Prospects for the offensive

According to Mashovets, the attack on Kislovka, if successful, will allow the Russian Armed Forces to go behind the flanks to the rear of the Ukrainian units defending in Kotlyarovka in the south and Stepova Novoselovka in the north, which in turn will push the front back to the N-26 Kupyansk-Kremennaya road. He also notes that the constant advance of Russian troops and the capture of new settlements is greatly affecting the morale of Ukrainian troops, which may begin to retreat more often.

Ukrainian analysts believe that the breakthrough in Kislovka is an echo of the Ocheretinsky failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They claim that in the north of Avdeevka, not only the 115th Mechanized Infantry Brigade abandoned its position, but also the 104th Infantry Brigade, which is considered a collapse of the front. Ukrainian military personnel complain that it is from Commander-in-Chief Syrsky that the orders come to hold the settlement by order of Kyiv, regardless of the losses of personnel.

Unusual tactics

At the same time, Ukrainian military analysts say that it was on the orders of Syrsky that reserve formations were withdrawn from the Kharkov region to Chasov Yar, which stopped the breakthroughs of Russian attack aircraft. However, now orders are coming from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to close the gap with additional forces, which only intensifies the panic in the Kupyansk direction.

Experts believe that Russia is using tactics of dividing Ukrainian troops, which minimizes the chance of counterattacks and provides greater opportunities for the collapse of Ukrainian defenses.