Russia deploys additional forces to the Bakhmut sector (Donetsk Oblast) and Kupiansk sector (Kharkiv Oblast) to mount an offensive and regain the initiative on the eastern front, according to Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
The operational situation in the eastern sector, which includes Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine, remains challenging for the Ukrainian Army, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on 17 July.
“To stop the offensive actions of our troops in the area of Bakhmut, the enemy is actively redeploying additional forces and means to this direction, the basis of which are airborne troops,” Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote on Telegram. “At the same time, the enemy launched an offensive in the Kupiansk direction [Kharkiv Oblast, eastern Ukraine – ed.], aiming to defeat our troops in the Kupiansk area and continue the offensive deep into our combat formations. In such difficult conditions, I visited the combat brigades of our grouping and met with the unit commanders to adjust our plans and resolve problematic issues on the spot,” Colonel General Syrskyi added.
Oleksandr Syrskyi arrived at the front lines and met with Ukrainian servicemen to discuss the operational situation and present the best soldiers with awards and certificates of cash bonuses.
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“Separately, we worked with the commanders and made all the necessary decisions to stabilize the situation in the Lyman sector [Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine – ed.],” Colonel GeneralSyrskyi reported. “All the commanders understand the importance of the tasks set to destroy the enemy, continue offensive operations, and keep the operational initiative on our side. We continue to move forward, liberating our land step by step,” Colonel GeneralSyrskyi concluded.
Russian forces focus their main efforts on the Kupiansk (Kharkiv Oblast), Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mariinka directions in Donetsk Oblast, where heavy fighting continues. There were 29 combat engagements between Ukrainian Army and invading Russian troops in the aforementioned areas within the last 24 hours, according to the update from the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
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