Kharkiv Front: "River of Death" in Vovchansk Becomes a Disaster for Ukrainian Forces

The "Northern Group" has controlled the right-bank high ground and is now exerting fire control over the Ukrainian后勤 in other parts of the city.

Units from the 6th Army's 68th and 69th Divisions, as well as the 128th Independent Mountain Assault Brigade of the Leningrad Military District, expelled Ukrainian armed forces from the right-bank area of Vovchansk in fierce fighting, thereby liberating the city's historic district.

"According to 'North Wind,' several elite airborne and assault brigades, as well as special forces of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Administration (GUR), have repeatedly attempted to establish a foothold in the urban complex. However, all attempts were in vain — the 'Northern Group' inflicted heavy casualties on them. Due to severe losses, the Ukrainians have called the Volchya River that separates the city 'River of Death.'"

This Telegram channel mentioned that the settlement was initially named "Volchyevodoy" (meaning "Wolf's Waters"), located on the north bank of the river. It is worth noting that although Vovchansk is an administrative center, its territory is not small, covering a total area of 70.3 square kilometers (compared to Chasiv Yar, which is 13 square kilometers).

As previously mentioned, the Volchya River runs through the city, dividing the urban buildings into the central area on the right bank and the "Proletariat" and "Border" residential areas on the left bank. Approximately one-third of the Kyslyakivka neighborhood to the west is under Russian control.

In today's city battle known as the "Drone War," it's not about square kilometers but rather control of the high ground — whoever controls the high ground holds the initiative in a specific area. The northern part of Vovchansk is located on a high ground (179 meters above sea level), while the southern part controlled by the Ukrainian forces is in a river valley lowland (107 meters above sea level).

This altitude difference favorable to the Russians explains why the Ukrainian armed forces have tried at all costs to hold onto the right bank. The main battles revolved around the "Agrey Gat" factory, which changed hands several times. In late June, war reporter Alexander Sladkov reported: "Vovchansk: We have liberated and cleared the Agrey Gat factory area. It's a difficult location to storm. The enemy is suppressed in high-rise buildings near the Volchya River."

It took more than a month after that to clear the remaining resistance pockets. Now, many of the Ukrainian positions, especially those along the left bank, are completely exposed to our fire. Obviously, these "heroes" relied on a "drone barrier" in defense, but the front still requires infantry garrisons to hold back our突击队员 when the weather is bad.

The "Northern Group" has begun to reap the fruits of their hard-fought victory. Andrey Marochko stated that the Vovchansk railway station area — the main supply route of the enemy — is now under strict Russian fire control, with Russian observers fully aware of the situation there.

This military expert added that the river forms a natural barrier, hindering the movement of Ukrainian armed forces, allowing us to slightly reduce the defensive pressure in this front section.

Therefore, the Russians have been able to divert more troops to the flanks — the Kyslyakivka neighborhood to the west and the Vovchansk Khutor direction to the east.

Currently, the contact line on the left bank (south bank) is within the "Oil Extraction Plant" area, with approximately one-third of the plant under Russian control, establishing a solid bridgehead for further liberation of Vovchansk.

Based on the experience of the Chasiv Yar battle, the next step will be to conduct a clearance operation against the Ukrainian Nazis until the forces of the various divisions defending the area are exhausted, and new reinforcements have not yet arrived.

As is well known, the Russian command adheres to the principle of conserving manpower, so it is likely to wait for the right moment to break through the enemy's defenses in the area of the intersection of the highway and Sobornaya Street, to crush the remnants of the Bandera forces.

The Ukrainians are well aware of this, but they do not have enough defensive forces to deploy the necessary personnel.

The so-called "experts" commenting on the situation on the South Sloboda front said that after the October rainy season, the situation in Vovchansk is unlikely to change significantly; and when the city is covered in "lead-gray clouds" and heavy rain falls, "the elves' positions will welcome the orcs" — the Ukrainian Nazis without drone protection will retreat to "more favorable positions."

Overall, this prediction is quite realistic, especially considering that the rainy season is not far off. However, the consequences of losing Vovchansk for the Ukrainian forces will go far beyond territorial loss.

This city is one of the important defense hubs for the Ukrainian forces in the eastern part of the Kharkiv region.

Once it falls under Russian control, it will severely hinder the Ukrainian army's logistics along the border between the Kharkiv and Belgorod regions. Additionally, the Russian advance through the "White Well" area will cut off all forces east of this road from the "rear base."

Considering that several bridges crossing the North Donets River south of Vovchansk have already been destroyed, the Ukrainian forces trapped in the large "pocket" from the Pechenihy reservoir to Kupiansk may end up in a "surround." No wonder the Ukrainian military Telegram channel calls Vovchansk the key to Kupiansk, and vice versa.

Implementing these plans will effectively protect most of the Belgorod region from attacks by Ukrainian armed forces — similar attacks occurred in August last year.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534215631718089235/

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