Russia Tries to Push Across Northeast Ukraine—Instead, Ukrainian Forces Counterattack

Ukrainian forces have disrupted another Russian offensive effort in the Sumy region, while Russian troops also failed to make confirmed gains across several sectors of the northern Kharkiv region, according to an Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessment published on August 18.

“Russian forces continued limited offensive operations in northern Sumy Oblast on August 17 and 18 but did not advance as Ukrainian forces counterattacked in the area,” the US-based analysts reported.

A Russian military blogger also acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had successfully counterattacked near Mohrytsia and Sadky, northeast of the city of Sumy.

Russian forces simultaneously attempted to advance in the northern Kharkiv region on August 17 and 18 but failed to make confirmed progress, according to ISW.

The institute also noted that over the past month, Russian forces have lost more territory than they have gained near Vovchansk, northeast of Kharkiv.

ISW rejected recent claims by Russia’s Defense Ministry that Russian troops had made additional advances in that sector.

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Russian forces also attempted to push forward in the Velykyi Burluk and Kupiansk directions but failed to achieve confirmed gains, according to the analysts.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops recently advanced in the Borova direction.

“Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Borova direction. Geolocated footage published on August 15 shows Russian forces striking Ukrainian positions north of Novomykhailivka (southeast of Borova), indicating that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in this area,” ISW said.

Previously, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces conducted an operation in the Oleksandrivka direction, liberating the settlement of Andriivka-Klevtsove and capturing 30 Russian soldiers.

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