Ukraine: Latest Updates on Kupyansk Frontlines, 16 February 2023

The confrontation between the Russian military forces and the Ukrainian troops keeps on in the northern and southern fronts of Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, and the Russian forces continue to advance in those fronts gradually.

The Russian military forces have recently managed to enter the Gryanykivka residential area after they could stabilize their positions in Dvorichne; although, the two sides continue fierce battles in that region.

Additionally, the clashes and artillery fights kicked off in south of Lyman Pershyi for the seizure of Synkivka village. There were some reports last week, claiming that the Russian soldiers entered the Synkivka village, which were not authentic. The scale of Russian artillery fire on the Synkivka village has amplified significantly since last week, and it seems to be probable that the Russian army is going to start a ground offensive to capture the region soon.

Read more: Military Situation In Ukraine Frontlines, 8 February 2023 (Map)

Simultaneous with the operations and advances on the Synkivka and Dvorichne fronts, the Russian army intends to put pressure on the Ukrainian military in the north of Kupyansk in order to deter the Ukrainian army’s logistics focus from other fronts to the Kupyansk axis.

It is noteworthy that following five months of inactivity in the northern fronts of Luhansk and southern Kharkiv, the Russian army has started regaining the upper-hand in some areas of these axes. Earlier, the Russian army had entirely retreated from the northern and northeastern regions of Kharkiv oblast in September 2022. As a result of that retreatment by the Russian forces, approximately 8,800 square kilometers of Kharkiv province, which were under the control of the Russian troops at that time, were handed over to the Ukrainian military.

Read more: Russian Army Retreats From the Kharkiv Oblast (Map Update)

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