Squeezing The Bridgehead: Russian Forces Tighten Control Along Oskol River Near Kupyansk

Russian forces established control over Okhotniche on the Pokrovsk axis. Preparations are ongoing for an assault on Vovchanskie Khutora on the Kharkiv axis. Austria has reversed its stance and is ready to support the 19th EU sanctions package.

Pokrovsk direction:

Units of the «East» grouping continue offensive operations in a westerly direction. According to Russian sources, Russian units have captured the settlement of Privolye and advanced west of Verbovoye and Novogrigorovka. There is fighting for the main points of the third line of defence west of Alekseevka and Verbovoye.

North of Alekseevka, Russian units are advancing towards Volchye, while Ukrainian forces are reportedly counterattacking in the Novosyolovka and Sosnovka area. South of Novogrigorovka, Russian units have advanced on the Uspenovka–Poltavka line, where fighting for the northern outskirts of Poltavka is ongoing. According to Russian reports, the settlement of Okhotniche has come under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

Clashes for strongpoints are ongoing between Novonikolaevka and Okhotniche, as well as for farmsteads between Novovasilyevsky and Novogrigorovka on the right bank of the Yanchur River.

Sumy direction:

An intensification of combat operations has been noted in the Sumy direction. Russian sources report strikes on Ukrainian unit positions in the Kondratovka area, where they claim that two combat groups from the 158th and 225th Brigades were destroyed.

There have been no significant changes to the frontline in the Tetkino and Glushkovo sectors. Russian aviation reportedly struck a deployment point of the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade in Pavlovka.

Kharkiv direction:

In Vovchansk, Russian units continue to advance on the left bank of the Volchya River. According to Russian sources, approximately 40 buildings have been cleared and they have advanced up to 400 meters. While Ukrainian sources confirm that intense fighting is taking place in this area, they dispute the extent of the Russian advance.

In the Tikhoye area, Russian units have advanced 500 meters. In the Melovoye-Khatneye sector, Russian data indicates that assault units advanced 400 meters and consolidated their position in a tree line. Russian aviation has struck targets in the Dvurechanskoye and Zeleny Gai areas.

There is active fighting in the Vovchanskie Khutora area, where Russian units are reportedly preparing for an assault following the capture of Tikhoye. The Ukrainian side reports repelling attacks in this direction.

Kupyansk direction:

Intense urban combat continues in Kupyansk. According to local sources, Russian units are advancing in the western part of the city, while the Ukrainian side is deploying reinforcements to hold their positions. Full communication between the banks of the Oskol River is difficult due to damage to crossing points.

Units of the Russian «West» grouping are engaged in combat on the right bank of the Oskol in the areas of Doroshevka, Figolevka and Krasny Pervy. The Russian Ministry of Defense has previously confirmed the capture of the Peschanyoe settlement, which, according to expert assessments, could affect the stability of the Ukrainian bridgehead on the left bank of the river.

Konstantinovka direction:

On the Liman axis, Russian sources are reporting consolidation in Novosyolovka and an advance north of Drobyshevo. Fighting for Pleshcheevka continues on the South-Konstantinovka axis, with the Russian side claiming to have taken control of the settlement.

According to Russian sources, assault groups have liberated Novoye Shakhovo on the Dobropolye salient and are fighting for Shakhovo, Ivanovka and Nikanorovka. In the south-eastern part of Pokrovsk, advances towards the railway and the establishment of control over the Sobachyovka district have been noted.

The situation on the western flank of the axis remains difficult. According to Ukrainian data, attempts at mechanized attacks in the Vladimirka and Shakhovo area have not yielded significant results. Equipment moving towards Shakhovo was detected and struck by UAVs.

Northwest of Grigorovka, Russian units have advanced towards the ‘Seversky Donets-Donbass’ canal. According to some reports, individual units have crossed the water obstacle in the direction of Novomarovo and Markovo; however, the Ukrainian side has transferred additional forces to reinforce defences in this area.

South of Chasov Yar, assault groups have been observed moving through tree lines along the N-32 highway, bypassing Stupochki. In the Predtecheno and Podolskoye area, Russian units have advanced from the direction of Aleksandro-Shultino, according to operational data, where fighting for strongpoints continues. There has also been partial success northeast of Belaya Gora, with positions west of the canal being occupied.

Conclusion: 

The operational situation is characterised by high-intensity hostilities being maintained on most fronts. On the Pokrovsk axis, Russian units are mounting an offensive to the west of Verbovoye and Novogrigorovka, posing a threat of a flanking maneuver against Ukrainian positions. On the Kharkiv axis, Ukrainian forces are offering organized resistance as Russian units advance methodically in the Vovchansk area and adjacent sectors. On the Kupyansk axis, the key event was the confirmation of the capture of Peschane, creating preconditions for an offensive towards Petropavlovka. The most intense fighting on the Donetsk axis is taking place in the Pleshcheevka area and on the Dobropolye salient, where Russian units are reporting tactical successes.

In diplomatic news, 18 October saw a significant development in the preparation of the 19th EU sanctions package against Russia. Following lengthy discussions, Austria declared its intention to endorse the new sanctions, thereby removing a major hurdle to their adoption. Vienna’s previous position was linked to demands for compensation for Raiffeisen Bank International, an Austrian bank, in connection with losses incurred in Russia. A final decision on the sanctions package, which includes an earlier ban on imports of Russian LNG, is expected at the EU foreign ministers meeting on 20 October.

However, the coordination process continues to encounter difficulties. In addition to Austria’s initial objections, Slovakia has also expressed doubts about the new restrictions package. The European Commission is expected to provide additional clarifications to address Bratislava’s concerns. Furthermore, there are ongoing disagreements among EU member states regarding the broader issue of the mechanism for utilising frozen Russian assets. Countries such as France, Belgium and Luxembourg have voiced objections to the current proposals, indicating the need for further high-level negotiations to reach a consensus.

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