Frontline Report: Russian Attempt at New Attack Vector Near Zolochiv Ends in Failure

July 1: There are many updates heading to Kharkiv.

Here, after suffering terrible losses while attempting to advance in two initial vectors of advance, Russian forces suddenly opened a new vector of attack, west of their initial offensive across the international border near the villages of Udy and Zolochiv.

In recent days, there have been reports of a cross-border attack carried out in the evening by a Russian sabotage group in the direction of Zolochiv, northwest of Kharkiv. However, this operation has been identified as a reconnaissance mission rather than the start of a larger offensive.

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that border guards successfully repelled the Russian assault near Sotnyskyi Kozachok. Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border guards, said the group crossed the border near the town and engaged in a gunfight before being neutralized.

A Russian military blogger suggested that Russian forces were testing Ukrainian defenses in the region, with the assault likely aimed at creating operational ambiguity along the international border.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian forces are preparing for new offensive actions, concentrating a group of troops of an undetermined size near the border. Ukrainian military analysts stressed that these efforts should not be neglected due to the tactical importance of the target area. The concentration of forces around the Russian settlement of Grayvoron creates uncertainty for the Ukrainian armed forces, as it is located almost equidistant from the major Ukrainian cities of Sumy and Kharkiv, about 100 km from each.

Although the Russians do not currently have enough troops and equipment to pose a substantial threat to either city, these maneuvers are likely part of a strategy to pin down and draw Ukrainian forces along a broader front in northeastern Ukraine.

A possible initial target for a new Russian offensive could be the village of Bohodukhiv.

The capture of this village would allow the Russians to disrupt Ukrainian logistics by controlling the local roads P45 and P46, which connect the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. This potential strategy was confirmed by the Institute for the Study of War, which observed satellite images indicating increased Russian activity at depots and warehouses in nearby localities in recent weeks.

Ukrainian forces have therefore had to deploy troops and resources across a larger part of the border to mitigate these threats. The head of the Kharkiv military administration, Oleh Synehubov, has expressed concerns about a possible intensification of Russian forces' operations in the Zolochiv direction, prompting Ukraine to closely monitor Russian movements in the region.

In addition, the Main Directorate of Ukrainian Military Intelligence intercepted and published Russian communications that confirmed the possibility of such attempts. These intercepted calls provided valuable insight into Russian plans, reinforcing the urgency for Ukrainian forces to remain vigilant and prepared for a potential large-scale operation. The intelligence gathered underscores the continued need for strategic planning and preparedness to adapt to evolving threats on the Northeastern Front.

In response, units of Ukrainian drone operators were quickly deployed to act on the surveillance information already collected.

They carried out a series of precision attacks aimed at disrupting Russian logistics and hampering the concentration of forces behind the international border.

The first images come from the Ukrainian 92nd Assault Brigade, which released several geotagged videos showing its engagement with enemy targets. These targets included stationary and transiting transport vehicles, enemy soldiers, and an observation post equipped with surveillance cameras used to monitor Ukrainian activities near the border.

These attacks quickly became commonplace, and other drone units operating in the region shared additional imagery. This highlighted their efforts to sabotage Russian logistics operations, creating significant disruptions and forcing the Russians to constantly adapt to new threats.

The concerted efforts of these drone units have made it increasingly difficult for the Russians to maintain their supply lines and operational momentum in the region. The original uncensored footage of these operations can be found on our Telegram via the link in the description. It is worth noting that the recent increase in Russian activity towards Zolochiv and Udy is not their first attempt to sow chaos in this part of the Kharkiv region.

About a month ago, the Russians launched artillery strikes against Ukrainian positions near the village of Udy. However, these efforts were quickly countered by Ukrainian forces. Counter-battery teams of the 92nd Assault Brigade effectively targeted Russian positions around the village of Schetinovka, successfully suppressing enemy fire and abruptly stopping this first Russian offensive. Overall, the stalemate in which Russian forces find themselves near Lyptsi and Vovchansk has prompted them to look for alternative methods to disrupt the Ukrainian defense.

Despite the reduction of their forces in the region due to significant losses, the Russians are again preparing for a possible offensive northwest of Kharkiv. Their goal is to expand the Ukrainian army on a wider front.

The Ukrainian command, fully aware of these movements, is closely monitoring the situation and has already implemented measures to counter any such attempts from the outset. These proactive measures are aimed at maintaining control over key villages and roads in the region. The rapid denial of any opportunistic advances in this region may have already discouraged the Russian command from further complicating the situation.

In our regular reporting from the front lines, we team up with military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed of what's happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.