06 Jun: Liberation on the way. Ukrainians successfully advance in Vovchansk - Reporting from Ukraine

Day 834: Jun 06

Today, there are a lot of updates from the Kharkiv direction.

The situation in Vovchansk remains highly volatile as the Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched significant counterattacks on different vectors within the city. Recent developments indicate substantial gains by Ukrainian forces, who have managed to recapture several key areas within the city.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have successfully counterattacked in Vovchansk, recapturing several blocks and pushing Russian forces out of parts of the city center. According to a renowned German press military analyst, in mid-May, Russian forces captured the northern part of Vovchansk and expanded to several central blocks. However, recent Ukrainian advancements have reduced the Russian control to approximately a quarter of the city, down from nearly half just days ago. Remarkably, the recaptured areas are located mainly in 3 areas, that is, just west of the Citadel, a bit further south close to the aggregate plant, and in the easternmost area of the city, where the Ukrainians are pushing strongly to the north. This shift in control highlights the effectiveness of the Ukrainian counteroffensive efforts.

In particular, recent reports underline the importance of the Ukrainian success in holding their positions in the “citadel”. This area is characterized by high, well-fortified buildings that are used by Ukrainian forces to decimate any Russian advance into the area. Geolocated footage corroborates reports of Ukrainian forces making significant headway and reclaiming different critical areas previously under Russian control.

The first video shows the tight surveillance reconnaissance drones keep over the streets of Vovchansk. The drone detects a group of infantry trying to hide in a garage area. After the first impact of an FPV drone, some soldiers managed to escape and take shelter in a second garage just twenty meters away from the first one. Unfortunately for the Russians, the whole scene is captured by the reconnaissance drone, which marks the target to a second FPV drone that hits the garage, eliminating the Russian soldiers who were trying to take shelter there. A second video shows a building west of the aggregates plant, taken as a shelter by a Russian infantry group. Reconnaissance teams mark the target for Ukrainian artillery that delivers a devastating barrage on the building, demolishing it. The images suggest that Ukrainian artillery equipment is still fully operational and that Russian counter-battery efforts are, therefore, proving unsuccessful. If you want access to original uncensored combat footage, you can find it on our telegram channel using the link in the description.

For their part, Russian forces relied mainly on air-strikes with glide bombs, although, for the moment, Ukrainian forces have managed to hold positions and use them to launch their counterattacks. Numerous videos appeared recently with drone panoramic views of the city of Vovchansk, showing how the Russians are trying to level it completely.

A prominent Russian milblogger has outlined three primary reasons for the stalling of the Russian offensive operation in northern Kharkiv region. Firstly, Russian forces have struggled to isolate the battlefield effectively, failing at disrupting Ukrainian logistic efforts. Despite Russian heavy shelling and the destruction of numerous bridges using glider bombs, Ukrainian engineers have continuously repaired and established pontoon crossing points, ensuring the steady supply of Ukrainian forces north of the Vovcha River. Secondly, Ukrainian FPV drones have significantly hindered Russian infantry advancements within the city. In addition, a considerable presence of Ukrainian snipers and special forces, particularly the KRAKEN unit, has further hampered Russian efforts. Thirdly, Russian counter-battery warfare has for the most part failed to constrain Ukrainian artillery fire, allowing Ukrainian forces to maintain a robust offensive capability.

In a turn of events, the American administration has recently permitted Ukraine to use US-provided weapons, including HIMARS rockets, for counter-fire purposes against Russian forces on Russian soil in the Kharkiv direction...