General Staff: Over 20 Russian battalion tactical groups relocate to Izium
Anastasiia Kalatur – Saturday, 16 April 2022, 07:10
Russian forces have gathered up to 22 battalion tactical groups near Izium, in the Kharkiv region.
Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Details: The Russian troops’ main efforts are focused on holding the positions and fronts that they had previously taken. In order to reinforce their presence on the Izium front, Russian troops deployed additional detachments of the 35th Combined Arms Army. It is possible that by mobilising on the Izium and Barvinkove fronts, Russian troops intend to approach the units of Ukrainian Joint Forces near Sloviansk from the rear.
On the Slobozhanskyi front, fighting continues by various units of Russia’s 6th and 20th Combined Arms Armies, the 1st 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 troops from the Baltic Coast and northern fleets of the Russian occupying forces. Their efforts are focused on regrouping and reinforcing the grouping of troops in the area. They are also continuing a partial blockade of Kharkiv and are shelling the city from artillery.
On the Donetsk and Tavriia fronts, Russian troops are trying to hold the occupied territories. They are focused on bringing the towns of Popasna and Rubizhne under their control, as well as capturing Mariupol completely. Russian troops are restoring their combat capability and replenishing ammunition supplies. They are also trying to improve their tactical position and continue shelling on most fronts.
There are no significant changes on the Sievierodonetsk front. Russian troops have intensified the shelling in order to inflict losses on and exhaust the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and possibly to prepare for an offensive.
Ukrainian troop units are constantly being shelled on the Popasna front. Russian motorised infantry units together with a battalion of a private military firm are trying to improve the tactical position of the Russian troops and are advancing deeper into Popasna, but with no success.
Russian troops are preparing for active fighting near Avdiyivka and continue frequent shelling near Toretsk in order to exhaust the troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On the Pivdennyi Bug front, Russian troops are restoring their combat capability, supplies, and engineering equipment near the towns of Liubymivka, Petrivka, and Khreshchenivka. They are reinforcing their advanced positions, presumably with units from the mobilisation reserve of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps.
It is expected that Russian troops will continue fighting in order to reach the administrative borders of the Kherson region and resume the offensive there.
There was no active fighting on the Volyn, Polissya, or Siverskyi fronts. Some units have been relocated: presumably, units of the 35th and 36th Combined Arms Armies of the Eastern Military District. Trucks, special vehicles, and fuel trucks are moving towards loading areas.
In the waters of the Sea of Azov, Russian ships are continuing to block the port of Mariupol and to fire at the coast.
Due to the fact that Russian warships armed with Calibre missiles are present in the waters of the Black Sea, there is an increased threat that Russian troops will launch missiles at Ukrainian defence industry and infrastructure facilities.
10 Russian attacks were repulsed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 3 Russian tanks, 1 armoured personnel carrier, 1 unit of special equipment, 2 cars, and 3 artillery systems were destroyed. A Russian armoured personnel carrier was captured by Ukrainian troops.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine hit 7 Russian air targets: 1 plane, 1 helicopter, 3 UAVs, and 2 cruise missiles.
