Main points
- Russian troops are conducting limited attacks in several directions, including in the Sumy region and in the Kupyansk direction.
- Ukrainian forces hold positions southwest of Hulyaipol, while Russian forces advance northwest and west of the city.
The enemy is trying to save its spring offensive from failure / Collage by Channel 24
Fierce fighting continues at the front. The occupiers are trying to attack in several directions simultaneously.
The Institute for the Study of War has analyzed the course of hostilities in Ukraine. According to analysts, Russian troops are continuing limited attacks in several directions.
What is the situation at the front?
Sumy region
Russian forces are prioritizing offensive operations east and southeast of the city of Sumy, rather than actions north and northeast of the city.
The spokesman for the United Group of Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Viktor Tregubov, stated that the occupiers in the Sumy region are attacking most intensively along the international border in the south of the region.
He also noted that the enemy had captured Myropylske (east of Sumy) and had advanced two to three kilometers inland in some areas along the border.
Kharkiv region
On April 23, Russian forces conducted a diversionary operation and continued offensive operations northeast of Kharkiv, while Ukrainian forces launched counterattacks in the area. Geolocated footage shows the Defense Forces striking Russian servicemen northwest of Bochkovye (northeast of Kharkiv).
The head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleg Synegubov, reported on April 22 that Russian drones had attacked Bogoduhiv about 50 times. The town is located northwest of Kharkiv, on the Merla River, at the intersection of the R-46 Sumy-Kharkiv highway and the R-45 Kharkiv-Okhtyrka highway.
Russian forces have intensified their attacks on Bogodukhov over the past week, starting around April 18. They are likely trying to put pressure on the Ukrainian rear to complicate supplies between Sumy and Kharkiv and prepare the conditions for a future offensive,
– explained ISW experts.
Russian forces continued ground attacks in the Kupyansk direction.
According to Tregubov, the occupiers have intensified infiltration operations north of Kupyansk near Golubivka. They are trying to eliminate the Ukrainian bridgehead by intensifying assault operations on the left bank of the Oskil River.
The military clarified that the invaders do not hold any permanent positions in Kupyansk-Vuzlovye (north of Kupyansk), despite statements by the Chief of the Russian General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, on April 21.
Donetsk region
A spokesman for the Ukrainian brigade operating in the Lyman direction reported on April 23 that the occupiers were preparing to launch a mechanized offensive and were continuing to strike at Ukrainian logistical routes to complicate personnel rotation and ammunition supplies.
Russian forces continue infiltration operations in the Slovyansk direction . Geolocated footage from April 23 shows Ukrainian forces striking Russian positions in the eastern part of Rai-Oleksandrivka (southeast of Slovyansk).
Other footage shows Russians shelling a Ukrainian position northeast of Liman in an area where the enemy had previously claimed control.
The invaders have recently continued their offensive in the Konstantinivka direction , but have not achieved any confirmed advances.
Footage released on April 22 shows Ukrainian forces holding positions northeast of Stinka (north of Kostyantynivka) and in the southern part of Chasovy Yar (northeast of Kostyantynivka) – areas where Russian sources had previously claimed the presence of occupiers.
Russian forces continue to conduct mechanized and motorized assaults in the Kostyantynivka direction. Footage released on April 22 shows Ukrainian forces hitting three Russian vehicles south of Predtechyny (east of Kostyantynivka) during a roughly platoon-level motorized assault.
The occupiers also recently conducted two mechanized assaults of approximately platoon scale in the Kramatorsk direction – east of Chasovy Yar.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction, concentrating attacks to the northwest and north of Pokrovsk, but made no confirmed advances.
On April 21, the state-run Russian television channel Channel One published a video showing two occupiers allegedly from the 35th Motorized Rifle Brigade raising a flag in the village of Hryshyne. In reality, the Russians were in Mykhailivka (southeast of Pokrovsk and approximately 40 kilometers from Hryshyne).
Zaporizhzhia
Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions southwest of Hulyaipol, while Russian troops are focusing their offensive operations northwest and west of the city.
Geolocated footage released on April 22 shows the presence of Ukrainian forces in Charivne in areas where the Russians had previously claimed a presence.
The spokesman for the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, Colonel Vladislav Voloshyn, reported on April 22 that Russian forces were still 15 kilometers from Orekhov, denying claims by Russian officials about alleged street fighting in the city.
Voloshyn noted that the enemy first needed to capture Novodanylivka (directly south of Orekhov) before launching ground assaults on the settlement itself.
Situation at the front / ISW maps
The course of hostilities in Ukraine: latest news
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The Russian occupiers have intensified their actions in the Sumy direction, trying to distract Ukrainian forces from other areas of the front. Serhiy Kuzan, head of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, told Channel 24 about this. According to him, the Russian army is not managing to complete the tasks set in the Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions, so it is trying to force Ukraine to transfer units to the north.
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With the warming, Russian troops have become more active on the front, trying to use the dry weather to advance equipment. Military expert Pavlo Narozhny told Channel 24 about this. According to him, in recent days the occupiers have carried out four mechanized and motorized assaults, but none of them have brought them success. The hottest direction remains Donetsk region, especially the Pokrovska and Myrnograd areas, where fighting continues near cities and for logistics. At the same time, according to the expert, Ukrainian forces are holding the front and even improving their positions in certain areas, in particular in the Oleksandrivske and Hulyaipil directions.