The fate of three areas is decided: the Russian Federation wants to cut off the Armed Forces in Oscol and capture Kupyansk - expert
Russian troops make massive attempts to break Ukrainian defense and take strategically important positions, including the city of Kupyansk. About it writes military expert Konstantin Mashovets.
In his opinion, Kupyansk capture and the exit on the border of the Oskil River are the key goals of the Russian forces in the framework of the operation, the purpose of which is to cut out a large part of the Ukrainian group and create conditions for further offensive actions to the south, in the direction of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. "At the moment, obviously, the command of the" West "of the enemy in Kupyansk direction implements the plan of some operational-tactical offensive operation.
Its main purpose is probably the entry On the front of the site. The main shock power in Kupyansk is the 1st Tank Army (and) Russia, which involves three of its divisions: the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division ("Taman"), the 4th Panzer Division (Kantimirivska) and the 47th Tank Division Tank Division. In addition to these parts, the operations involve the 27th Separate Rifle Brigade and other units subordinate to the Army Headquarters.
Also, parts of the 6th Army from the Leningrad Military District, the forces of the 11th Army Corps of the Baltic Fleet, and several battalions of territorial troops and "Mobreserv" are also involved in the direction of the 6th Army. According to the expert, the approximate number of enemy forces in the Kupyansk direction is about 34-34. 5 thousand personnel.
They have up to 430 tanks, about 710-715 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles (BBM), as well as up to 475-480 artillery systems and 160 rocket launchers (RSSV). It is noteworthy that in this direction a significant number of starting installations of operational-tactical missile systems (OTRCs) are concentrated, which actively support the offensive forces. During the last two weeks, Russian troops have been able to achieve some tactical success, Mashovets notes.
The main actions unfold in the direction of settlements Sinkivka and Petropavlovka. The Russian forces are trying to surround Ukrainian positions in the Sinkivka area, moving from the west, and to go to the Gnyitsa River, which serves as a natural barrier on the way to Oscol. Other directions of attacks include Ivashkivka, Steppe Novoselivka and Kislovka, where active fighting is also ongoing, but here the Russians have not yet been able to achieve significant results.
At the same time, the 47th Tank Division continues attacks towards Glushkivka, Sand and Kruglyakivka, where the enemy tries to break into the Oskol and fix himself on its shore. Breaking through Ukrainian defense in the south of the Kupyansk direction, the Russians expect to expand the front line along the Oskil River and take control of Kupyansk.
The seizure of Kupyansk and surrounding settlements will enable Russian troops to strengthen their positions on the left bank of Oskol and to threaten the Ukrainian forces in the Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. The main goal of the Russian command is to break through the defense of Ukraine in the OCC and thus cut off some of the Ukrainian troops that defend themselves north of this river.
Kupyansk's capture will provide the Russians with a bridgehead for further offensive south and will increase pressure on Ukrainian positions in Kharkiv region. In addition, the Russians continue the offensive in the southeastern direction, seeking to reach the Armed Forces line in the Lyman direction and to fix in the Makeevka and Nevsky area on the left bank of the Black Zherebets River.
This will allow Russian troops to organize a large -scale operation from the environment of Ukrainian forces in the northern part of Donetsk region. The operational plan of the Russian army in the Kupyansk direction provides two stages: the first is a breakthrough to Oscol, and the second - the compression and elimination of the surrounding Ukrainian troops.
If the Russian forces manage to go to Oscol and capture Kupyansk, they will be able to organize an offensive on Slavyansk and Kramatorsk from the north, without forcing the river. Instead, they will start moving along the left shore, covering their flanks. Earlier it was reported that the GUR soldiers were cleaned of the Russians Kruglyakivka in Kharkiv region. According to GUR, Russian invaders lost in Kruglyakivka above the infantry platoon.