Russian occupiers are attempting to cross the Volchya River to advance towards Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. This was stated by Alexander Danilenko, head of the media interaction group of the "Hart" border guard brigade, during a broadcast on the "Kiev24" channel.
The military official believes that the Russians aim to capture Kupiansk to attack from the rear and encircle the group of Ukrainian fighters. The situation in the Kharkiv direction is complex but manageable, Danilenko added.
"All assault actions taking place in Volchansk and the surrounding areas are aimed at crossing the Volchya River. They must not be allowed to do this. Firstly, it will create conditions for the establishment of a so-called buffer zone... Additionally, the Russians want to create conditions for advancing on Kupiansk - to attack from the rear and encircle our troop grouping defending Kupiansk. We are countering these attempts," Danilenko noted.
The military emphasized that the Defense Forces are repelling the occupiers' attempts to advance in the Kharkiv direction. The situation is under control.
War in Ukraine: Frontline Situation
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since the beginning of the day on December 24, as of 22:00, there have been 248 combat engagements with the enemy at the front. The highest number of enemy attacks has been recorded in the Pokrovsk direction.
As reported by the spokesperson for the "Luhansk" Territorial Defense Group, Anastasia Bobovnikova, the situation in Toretsk is very challenging, with battles against Russian invading forces occurring for every house.
Meanwhile, the "Khortytsia" Operational Command reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine thwarted the occupiers' attempts to expand their foothold on the left bank of the Oskol River in the Kupiansk direction. The mechanized assault by the occupying army occurred in two waves and lasted almost the entire day.