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On the first day of their offensive in the area of Balakleya in the Kharkov region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to establish fire control of the roads leading to the settlements but they are yet to enter the town.
On September 6, the AFU went on the offensive in different areas in the Kharkov region. While artillery duels continued on the outskirts of the city of Kharkov, the main battlefield is the area near the town of Balakleya.
The AFU have been preparing the offensive operation for a long time, constantly shelling Russian positions for the last weeks and on the morning of September 6, they went on the assault.
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On the evening of September 6, the AFU took control of the western part of the village of Verbovka located on the north-western outskirts of Balakleya. The town is reportedly defended by the servicemen of the LPR mobile reserve and others, fighters of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Wagner group.
The AFU continue their attempts to advance to the east and take control of the road leading to Volokhov Yar in order to cut Balakleya from the north. They also attempt to take control of the large 65 arsenal located on the norther outskirts of Balakleya. However, according to several reports from the area, the arsenal was emptied in advance by Russian forces. In order to advance in Verbovka, the AFU have to cross the Srednyaya Balakleika River. The bridge over the river was not destroyed and there are battles for control over it.
At the moment, Balakleya is in an operational encirclement. Russian forces blew up the bridge on the Balakleika River to prevent the enemy vehicles from passing deep into the city.
Having established a foothold in the western part of Verbovka, the AFU developed some success towards the village of Yakovenkovo, trying to advance to Volokhov Yar. At the moment, the main battles continue on the eastern outskirts of Yakovenkovo. The road to Balakleya is under fire control of Ukrainian artillery.
According to unconfirmed reports, Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attack south of Balakleya near the village of Bayrak and managed to expand their control zone towards Gusarovka.
Russian positions in Balakleya are of strategic importance as they assure the security of the north-western flank of the Russian grouping in Izyum. Loss of the military positions in the area may threaten the Russian operation to blockade Ukrainian forces in Slavyansk region and even pawe they way for the Ukrainian offensive in the DPR.
