ISW explains why Russians want to capture Vovchansk in Kharkiv region
In the Kharkiv region, Russian forces are likely trying to quickly isolate the battlefield east of the Siverskyi Donets River and capture Vovchansk, a direction of advance that the Russian commanders may believe could threaten the Ukrainian group defending the Kupyansk sector.
This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) .
ISW has geolocation imagery from 11 May showing the destruction of a bridge over the Siverskyi Donets dam in Staryi Saltiv (southwest of Vovchansk) by Russian forces, as well as a strike on a bridge over the Vovcha River connecting Tykhyne and Vovchanski Khutory (both west of Vovchansk).
Analysts believe that the occupiers destroyed the bridges in order to isolate Ukrainian forces operating on both sides of the water bodies and prevent them from supporting the defence near Vovchansk.
Russia’s attempts to destroy Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) southwest and east of Vovchansk indicate that Russian forces are likely to focus on capturing Vovchansk rather than trying to bypass the town or expanding the front further east along the Russia-Ukraine border.
The Institute suggests that the occupiers may also intend to use offensive actions near Vovchansk to put pressure on the operational rear of Ukrainian forces defending against Russian attacks in the Kupyansk direction and to withdraw Ukrainian units defending in the Kupyansk area.
The Russian bridgehead in Vovchansk does little to help Russian efforts to advance towards Kharkiv, although it is possible that the Russians think a bridgehead in this town could allow them to launch offensive operations towards Velykyi Burluk.
ISW notes that a Russian advance further south of Vovchansk would require long cross-country movements - a capability that Russian forces have not demonstrated in the past year and a half of fighting in Ukraine.
12 May 2024 г., 09:09
