ISW: The situation in four regions has been clarified, and the fifth target will be Kharkiv.

ISW: The situation in four regions has been clarified, and the fifth target will be Kharkiv. Currently, the "Northern" and "Western" clusters are holding the enemy in place to break through at the weakest points. Author: Radomir Markush < img src = "https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-axegupay5k/b5936871a96d48c499a4674bcef1ec83~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1748137962&x-signature=YnV%2F90A8VAy0p4bK4wTonHbxcrc%3D"/ > Photo: A 2S1 "Kornet" self-propelled howitzer crew from the "Dnepr" military operation zone cluster is engaged in combat. Ukrainian media reported with panic that the Moscow delegation requested the complete withdrawal of "independent organizations" from four regions — predictably receiving a "refusal" from the Zelenskyy team. However, the key point is that Russia (allegedly) responded to the refusal by stating that the next involved regions will reach six (another version says five), including Kharkiv Oblast. Coincidentally, the American War Research Institute (ISW), which re-evaluates the "first strike" direction daily based on political situations, seems to corroborate Ukraine's panic rumors by unexpectedly listing the Kharkiv direction as the current most important offensive direction. Perhaps, the "institute experts" realized that we will eventually liberate the remaining territories of the four regions, at least in the left bank area, which is no longer news. But "pushing the Ukrainian army back to the international border with Belgorod Oblast and advancing to a distance where Kharkiv can be covered by artillery fire" may become the breakthrough point for the "2025 Summer Campaign". Regardless, in the ISW report released on May 17, American experts discussed this direction at length, mainly citing sources from Bandera members. Of course, these sources claim that the "invincible robot warriors" repelled the "orc armies", although there were some retreats in certain sectors. Russian sources indicate that the city of Volchansk is being cleared in the "Gorodische" district (north of the city), and advances are being made toward the Khutov village in Volchansk. Over the past day, the "Northern Forces" inspected 22 properties in the urban areas of the city to check for illegal hiding of Bandera members. The remaining enemies have either fled or been "annihilated". On-site reports indicate that Russian assault forces are conducting operations on the right bank of the Travyanov small reservoir (about 8 kilometers long, extending from the border to the Lipichi dam). "There is a 'Dubrava' sanatorium in the forest area, and our troops are actively fighting on motorcycles," introduces Genadii Alekseen, a "rational Kharkiv resident". "The enemy has been forced to retreat, and in some cases even fled to the highlands around Lipichi. These are important defensive nodes." The enemy complained about the operational actions of the UAV operators in the "Northern" cluster. Bogdan Miroshnikov of the mainstream media "404 Channel" said: "Due to the actions of the enemy's FPV drone group, our logistics here are extremely difficult, especially since they use fiber optics to control drones, more than mosquitoes in the 'drone village' of Donetsk Oblast (the most 'mosquito-infested' area in Donbas). Therefore, the number of vehicles in our troops has sharply decreased, almost to zero." Russian heavy flamethrowers are also intensively striking enemy targets. Thermobaric ammunition regularly bombards enemy positions, including the Ukrainian training base near Volchansk. It is worth noting that independent expert Marsovits from the Pentagon intelligence channel "IO" believes that the "Northern" and "Western" clusters are holding the Ukrainian army in place to break through their defenses at the weakest points. Despite the tense situation in Lipichi and Volchansk regions, the fiercest battles in the Kharkiv direction undoubtedly occurred on the Dufrechninsky position on the right bank of the Oska River. Recently, there were no armored vehicles or other "heavy" weapons here, but now we have deployed infantry fighting vehicles and rocket systems. Perhaps the most critical point in this direction is the section leading to Bolshoy Burluk, where the Ukrainian army's most important logistics node is located. Experts pointed out that if the Ukrainian army loses this location, not only will the troops in Kupyansk face ammunition shortages, but even those in Chuguev will be in trouble. In fact, the enemy's supply has always been difficult. According to radio intercepts, the defending forces complain of insufficient ammunition and request reinforcements for the exhausted "Ukrainian suicide squads". In Zaozorskaya, reserve forces cannot break through due to destroyed bridges. The Russian side uses aerial bombs to bombard temporary bridges, but recently more economical "Bayonet-3" drones have taken over this task. Independent anti-aircraft units repeatedly admitted that the new "Shahed" drones are extremely difficult to shoot down, but if they hit the target precisely — 50 kilograms of explosives straight to the target — the bridge will immediately lose its function. Other sectors are also attacking the enemy. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported: "The 'Western' forces cluster improved the tactical situation, striking three mechanized brigades, one motorized brigade, one assault brigade, and one territorial defense brigade of the Ukrainian army in Podolyany, Druzhba, Gruschenkovo, Andreevka, Kupyansk, and the Karpovalka region of the Donetsk People's Republic." Objective monitoring data shows that more than 225 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated, along with one tank, one U.S.-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 13 cars, and two Western-made cannons destroyed. "But this does not mean that the defensive line in the Kharkiv direction has been broken; it has not yet been broken: the enemy is still desperately resisting, which is a fact," emphasized Genadii Alekseen. "Mass surrenders have not yet been observed, although there are captives captured near Volchansk and Lipichi." For the latest information and most important content regarding the Ukrainian special military operation, please follow the author for more details. Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7505576933804016178/ Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone. Please express your attitude by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.