Enemy deploys up to 22 BTGs near Izium - General Staff

Russian invaders deployed up to 22 battalion tactical groups outside the town of Izium in the Kharkiv region, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has said on Facebook.

"The enemy is most active in the Slobozhanshchyna and Donetsk directions. In the Volyn, Polissia and Sivershchyna directions, the enemy was not active. The redeployment of presumably separate units of the 35th and 36th Combined Arms Armies of the Eastern Military District was recorded. Trucks and special vehicles and fuel tankers are moving to loading areas," the statement said.

In the Slobozhanshchyna direction, the invaders continue to engage separate units of the 6th and 20th Combined Arms Armies, the 1st Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District, the 35th and 36th Combined Arms Armies, and the 68th Army Corps of the Eastern Military District, airborne troops and coastal troops of the Baltic and Northern Fleets.

"The enemy concentrates its main efforts on regrouping and strengthening a grouping of troops, continuing the partial blockade of the city of Kharkiv and its shelling with artillery," the General Staff said.

In the area of the town of Izium, the enemy deployed up to 22 battalion tactical groups.

"The main efforts of the enemy are focused on holding the previously occupied positions and the achieved borders. In order to strengthen the grouping in this direction, the deployment of additional units from the 35th Combined Arms Army was recorded. It is not ruled out that the enemy will intensify its actions in the direction of the settlements of Izium and Barvinkove in order to reach the rear of the [Ukrainian] Joint Forces units near the town of Sloviansk," the General Staff said.

In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, the enemy is trying to hold the occupied territories. The main efforts are focused on taking control of the settlements of Popasna and Rubizhne, establishing full control over the city of Mariupol. The enemy is taking measures to restore combat capability and replenish ammunition, trying to improve tactical positions and continuing shelling in most directions.

There were no significant changes in the situation in the Sievierodonetsk direction, with the enemy increasing the intensity of shelling in order to inflict losses on Ukrainian troops and possibly prepare for offensive operations.

In the Popasna direction, the enemy continuously shells the units of Ukrainian troops. With the help of motorized infantry units, in cooperation with the battalion of a private military company, the enemy is trying to improve the tactical situation and advance deep into the settlement of Popasna. Those attempts were not successful.

Outside the town of Toretsk, the enemy continues to periodically open fire in order to deplete Ukrainian troops. Preparations for the intensification of hostilities in the area of Avdiivka were recorded.

In the Southern Buh direction, the enemy's actions were characterized by measures to restore combat readiness, replenish reserves, fortify positions outside the settlements of Liubymivka, Petrivka, Khreshchenivka and strengthen their advanced positions, probably with the help of units of the mobilization reserve of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps.

"It is expected that the enemy will continue to engage in hostilities in order to reach the administrative borders of the Kherson region and will try to resume the offensive," the General Staff said.

In the waters of the Sea of Azov, the enemy's naval group continues to carry out tasks to block the port of Mariupol and provide fire support in the coastal direction.

"Due to the presence of Russian warships in the Black Sea, armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, there is an increased threat that the occupiers could use missile weapons to fire at the facilities of the defense industry and logistics infrastructure of our country," the General Staff added.

In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, ten enemy attacks were repulsed in the past day. Three tanks, one armored personnel carrier, one unit of special equipment, two vehicles and three artillery systems of the enemy were destroyed. One armored personnel carrier of the invaders was captured.

A grouping of the Ukrainian Air Force hit seven air targets in the past day, including an aircraft, a helicopter, three UAVs and two cruise missiles.