Russia Claims Major Troop Encirclement in Kharkiv With No Independent Confirmation
Reporting based primarily on euobserver.com.
Russia claims to have created a large encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the Kharkiv region, but independent analysts, Ukrainian sources, and available mapping show no evidence supporting the assertion.
Russian Encirclement Claim in Kharkiv
Russian Telegram channel Rybar and the interior ministry assert that units east of Vovchansk have trapped Ukrainian forces in dozens of border villages across an area 25 km by 23 km, cutting them off from supplies so they are losing mobility, food, and ammunition. [2] This was how the Russian Telegram channel Rybar described the situation in the north-eastern part of the Kharkiv region on Tuesday evening. [2] If true, it would represent the most successful encirclement operation in this war since at least the spring of 2022. [2] Both armies have repeatedly attempted to create encirclements, but retreating units either escaped at the last moment or the encircled area was so small that only a handful of soldiers remained inside it. [2]
Mapping and Independent Assessments
No videos, independent confirmation, or mentions in reputable Ukrainian or Western sources support the encirclement claim; maps from Black Bird Group, Playfra, and DeepStateUA show no such development. [2] Russia has shown no videos proving any of its claims. [2] Nor do Ukrainian or independent analysts indicate anything of the sort. [2] The number of mentions of an encirclement having emerged in reputable sources is zero. [2] The Russian version of events therefore appears highly dramatic, but nothing supports it. [2] At present, by far the most likely explanation is that this is another mapping operation intended to secure a virtual victory. [2]
Russian forces claim to have encircled Ukrainian troops in the Kharkiv region. — Source: euobserver
Russian Outflanking Efforts Near Kostiantynivka
Russian forces continue attempts to outflank Kostiantynivka and Druzhkivka from the west near villages such as Staroraiske and Sofiivka, with small infiltration groups, but Ukrainian defenses in the area have held firm over the past year with only minimal Russian gains. [2] On Playfra’s map from Monday, note the village of Staroraiske inside the red oval. [2] It is a settlement on Druzhkivka’s western edge where Ukrainian forces managed to capture three Russians. [2] This was therefore a typical case in which Russia is able to send small groups of soldiers into thinly held defences, with these troops gradually attempting to infiltrate deeper and deeper into Ukrainian positions. [2] The problem is that this is very far to the north. [2] In the bottom left is a green area marking territory once captured by Russia and subsequently liberated. [2] This is the famous Dobropillia salient, where fighting took place exactly a year ago. [2] Russia is now infiltrating just a few km east of it, operating from the village of Sofiivka, which was fiercely contested throughout the year. [2] Over the past 12 months, Russia has repeatedly attempted to make advances here, committing and allowing its airborne divisions to bleed out, yet it has advanced by only a few km at most. [2]
Ukrainian Reinforcements and Defensive Measures
Ukrainian commander Mykhailo Drapatyi is reinforcing the sector with the 210th Assault Regiment and the 46th Air Assault Brigade, which have begun publishing combat footage from the area. [2] The new army commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi, placed this sector under the command of the 1st Azov Army Corps. [2] He is not limiting himself to administrative measures: new units are arriving to reinforce the defence. [2] According to the specialised project Unit Observer, the 210th Assault Regiment was deployed to its western flank. [2] The regiment began arriving in the area in late August and has been publishing videos from there showing the results of its combat operations since the start of September. [2] The same source reported on Monday that the command had transferred the 46th Air Assault Brigade to the left flank of the Kostiantynivka sector. [2] The brigade had previously fought for almost three years in the southern Donetsk region. [2] In this case, the redeployment began as early as July and, according to Unit Observer, the brigade is to reinforce the boundary between the 11th and 19th Army Corps, whose areas of responsibility meet precisely here. [2]
Ukrainian interceptor drones are developed for modern warfare operations in the Kharkiv region. — Source: france24
Continued Air and Border Attacks
Mass air raids continue on both sides, with attacks on Kyiv and Novorossiysk; Russia is also striking Ukraine’s border crossings with Moldova and Romania, killing two people at one location. [2] Mass air raids in both directions continue; Kyiv and Novorossiysk were both ablaze. [2] Russia is attacking Ukraine’s border crossings with Moldova and Romania, killing two people at one of them. [2] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chided the international community Wednesday for not taking a tougher stance against Russia over its escalating bombardment of civilian areas of Ukraine. [4]
Reported British Veterans Training Russians
Former British SAS soldiers are reportedly training Russian warfighters for combat in Ukraine according to a leaked intelligence memo. [1] Former British Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers are training Russians to fight in Ukraine, according to a leaked intelligence memo obtained by The Telegraph. [1]
What to watch next: Stabilization work from the Ukrainian side is still ongoing, with a clearing of Novomykolaivka and perhaps of other nearby settlements also ongoing.
