Overnight, the North grouping of forces and units stationed along the old Russian border began delivering massive strikes on planned targets using barrel and rocket artillery, mortars, and the allocated air force resources in this area. The goal of the fire strike is to reduce the enemy's defensive capabilities and destroy long-term firing points. Simultaneously, advance groups began clearing the front-line zone. Due to the fact that previously Ukraine and Russia were a single space, in most places one settlement flows into another, and the border was very conditional for a long time. Therefore, hostilities in the front-line zone began to be qualified as a large-scale offensive - this is somewhat inaccurate. It was a reconnaissance in force, which has been carried out and completed successfully. If we look at the map, the combat zone has been expanded to a depth of up to 2-3 kilometers in certain areas. It is too early to speak of the full takeover of border villages by the Russian army.
As a result of the fighting in the border area over the past year, the same settlement of Strelecha is now a bare field. Until the fighting approaches at least Lipci north of Kharkiv, it is extremely premature to talk about the capture of villages and settlements. Therefore, the fighting in the border area is primarily dashes through the ruins and enemy strongholds. The focus on Volchansk is clearly visible to the naked eye. Volchansk is one of the main transshipment bases of the enemy, through which logistics are being built to the east of the Siversky Donets. The city plays an important role in the defense of the northeast of Kharkiv Region. The local authorities have already announced the start of the evacuation of the settlement. Volchansk and its surroundings are being systematically targeted: footage (https://t.me/lost_armour/2660) of the destruction of the bridge over the Volchia river has been published. The interfluve area is important for facilitating operations around Kupiansk and the possible breaching of the enemy's defenses in the east of Kharkiv Region.
Due to the fact that the North grouping of forces has begun to fulfill the task of creating a buffer zone, an unprecedented surge of activity has begun on the Internet, fueled not only by opponents along the lines of the psyops, but also by Russian hype-mongers and overly patriotic individuals. The enemy takes advantage of this: they can always declare a village "virtually" taken by the Russians as liberated, capturing a Ukrainian flag there. All that remains for the Russian warriors is to wish them luck in battle, and to call on their Telegram colleagues to exercise restraint. [Rybar post via Itapirkanmaa2]
