Finding no success in their attempts to surround the city of Avdiivka, which already resulted in huge losses and forced them to switch to infantry assault tactics, the Russian army also began assaults in the Lyman and Kupiansk operational directions.
The information comes from Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Ground Forces Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Captain Illia Yevlash, chief press officer of the Joint Forces Task Force which is operating in Ukraine's southern regions.
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For the past two months, there was a decline in the activity of russian forces observed in this operational axis; it was important to gather force before an offensive. The main objective of their present effort is to surround Kupiansk city and reach the bank of the Oskil river. But the Ukrainian side was ready for this scenario, the Ground Forces Commander noted.
"Every day, the enemy launches dozens of assault attacks supported by armored equipment, mortar and artillery barrages on our positions," Syrskyi wrote. "However, our soldiers were prepared for events unfolding this way and are fighting back on par with the enemy. [The enemy] suffers heavy losses and has not achieved any significant success."
In turn, the Joint Forces Task Force representative detailed that the russian army deployed units from the 6th and the 20th Combined Arms Armies, and the 1st Tank Army. This is a combined arms battle involving army aircraft and tactical air force.
Over the past 24 hours, there were 25 assaults on this area in total, with efforts concentrated near Synkivka, Ivanivka, Makiivka, and Dibrova settlements. Simply put, the russian forces increased their activity along the entirety of the 120 km-long frontline segment between Lyman and Kupiansk axes.
"All the enemy's attacks were repelled. The enemy suffered casualties and had nos success. Ukrainian defenders on the Lyman-Kupiansk direction eliminated 206 occupiers and 15 armored vehicles, including 2 tanks, 5 armored fighting vehicles, and two D-20 guns," Illia Yevlash reported, as delivered in Ukrainian by ArmyInform.
Read more: The Situation Near Avdiivka: After Heavy Losses in Equipment, the russian army Switched to Infantry Assaults
