AFU advanced 20 km in Kharkiv region and recaptured 400 sq km – ISW

The Armed Forces of Ukraine, taking advantage of the redeployment of Russian forces, carried out an effective counterattack northwest of Izyum.

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

“Ukrainian forces in southeastern Kharkiv Oblast are likely exploiting Russian force reallocation to the Southern Axis to conduct an opportunistic yet highly effective counteroffensive northwest of Izyum,” the review of the institute says.

Ukrainian forces likely used tactical surprise to advance at least 20km into Russian-held territory in eastern Kharkiv Oblast on September 7, recapturing approximately 400 square kilometers of ground. 

Ukraine’s ongoing operations in Kherson Oblast have forced Russian forces to shift their focus to the south, enabling Ukrainian forces to launch localized but highly effective counterattacks in the Izyum area.

The analysts of the institute believe it is unlikely that the counteroffensive and attempts to divert Russian forces in southern Ukraine are a deception to resume operations in the Kharkiv region; Ukrainian forces probably reasonably took advantage of the redistribution of Russian troops, equipment and general operational concentration to launch localized counteroffensives against critical points in the Kharkiv region.

In addition, ISW, citing Ukrainian and Russian sources, reported activity along two main areas in Kherson Oblast on September 7: in the north of Kherson Oblast south of the border with Dnepropetrovsk Oblast and in the west of Kherson Oblast along the border with Mykolaiv Oblast.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 08/09/2022