UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket Systems
Summary of the Events
UAF have liberated 965 square miles and over thirty settlements in Kharkiv region since the surprise counter-offensive began on Wednesday. RF are rushing to reinforce the region, allowing UAF to start counter-offensives in the Donbas as well. UAF have reached Kupyansk and maybe even Izyum threatening to cut off thousands of RF in north-east Ukraine.
Battle for Kharkiv Region (Ukraine Offensive)
Target Kupyansk – UAF troops continued lunging forward by 30 miles in the Kharkiv region and captured Balaklia and by Thursday were within twelve miles of Kupyansk. They will likely capture the city by the weekend. Its capture will nearly cut off Izyum which is the base for the attack on Slovyansk.
UAF which had liberated Volokhiv Yar the day before, pressed north taking Semenivka and were joined by another force from the northwest and took Shevchenkove giving UAF access to the P07 highway and straight access to Kupyansk. They pushed all the way to Hrushivka by Thursday evening.
UAF also moved on and liberated Bryhadyrivka and then turned northeast to drive on Kupyansk liberating Bezmyatezhne, Voloska Balaklia, Borivske, and then joining in the fight for Hrushivka.
On Friday, UAF liberated Hrushivka and have entered the outskirts of Kupyansk which is now contested for the first time since the first day of the Russian invasion when it was captured. UAF forces have even moved south along the western side of the Oskil River to liberate Prystin and pushed on towards Senkove. The capture of Senkove will remove another bridge crossing of the Oskil River from RF.
In the process of capturing Balaklia, UAF captured an even bigger prize – Lieutenant General Andrei Sychevoi, the Russian commander over the western half of forces in Ukraine. Sychevoi is the highest-ranking Russian officer to have ever been captured since World War II.
Target Izyum – With the capture of Balaklia and nearby Borschivka on Thursday, the road is now open to Izyum and UAF will push on to capture that most important hub and the base of the entire operation against Slovyansk.
There is a cloud of secrecy over UAF advancements towards Izyum, but rumors have spread that they have reached the outskirts of Izyum. We do know that Russia began evacuation of citizens from Izyum. If this is true, all RF attacking Slovyansk region will soon be cut off from reinforcements and Russia will soon be retreating from all Kharkiv region.
Kharkiv/Chuhuiv Front – In response to the surprise attacks in Kharkiv region, RF fired two missiles into the center of the city of Kharkiv on Thursday killing two civilians and injuring five others. And on Friday, RF fired a missile on a university and downtown Kharkiv injuring ten people. One woman was also killed by a missile attack on Chuhuiv.
On Friday, RF attacked Udy and attempted to advance in the direction of Prudyanka and Rusky Tyshky but were unsuccessful on all fronts.
UAF cleaned up and liberated some settlements they had bypassed on their way from Chuhuiv to Kupyansk, the two major cities being Hrakove and Chkalovske. There are still two small pockets to clean up, but no major cities are present in those areas, and it is assumed that no RF are there either. UAF control the M03 highway between Kharkiv all the way to Volokhiv Yar.
Battle for Kherson Region (Ukraine Offensive)
Very little news is leaked out about the Kherson Offensive. Pictures of UAF hoisting the flag in Blahodativka confirms that city has been liberated. UAF also repelled a RF assault on Bezimenne which is now being contested by both sides again.
Battle for the Donbas (Russian and Ukrainian Offensives)
Because RF are being forced to defend Kherson, and now Kharkiv, the Russian offensive in the Donbas has come to a halt and is starting to be reversed as UAF are pushing RF back from Slovyansk.
Target Bakhmut – RF have retreated from their advance on Bakhmut, but battles for Soledar and Bakhmutske continue. RF attempted to advance towards Mykolaivka Druha and Zaitseve but were not successful. The advance on Bakhmut has ceased for now as Russia must rush to reinforce the Kharkiv region.
Target Slovyansk – With their supply lines quickly being cut off, RF made some desperate assaults towards Virnopillya, Dibrivne, Dovhenke, and Hryhorivka but were repelled on all fronts. UAF have gone on the offensive along the Slovyansk line advancing towards Lyman to cut off the last retreat route from Izyum.
Target Donetsk Defense Line – RF made several assaults towards Avdiivka, Pervomaiskyi, Nevelske, Marinka, and Pobieda. They were all repulsed by UAF.
Other Regions
Dnipropetrovsk – RF fired missiles on Nikopol over Wednesday night destroying eleven homes and a school. No reports of casualties have been released.
Sumy – RF continue to shell UAF positions along the border to pin them down. RF also shelled a hospital in Velyka Pysarivka which resulted in many casualties.
Belarus
Belarus launched week-long military exercises along the border with Ukraine and Poland to practice liberating territory which was lost and to practice shelling enemy ground forces.
Other News
The deputies of the Smolninskoye municipal okrug, one of 18 regions of the city of St. Petersburg, voted to send a letter to the Russian Duma calling on them to arrest President Putin for treason and remove him from office. For obvious security reasons, the names of the majority who voted for the measure were not reported.
International Support
The U.S. announced on Thursday another $2 billion in loans and grants to Ukraine. Then later in the day Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Kyiv and announced another $675 million in military aid.
US President Joe Biden held a conference call with several nations about the situation in Ukraine and how they can assist Ukraine militarily and economically.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Latvian President Egils Levits visited Kyiv to show support for Ukraine and discuss the military situation.