Russia deploys more troops and equipment and mounts offensive on two fronts – General Staff report

OLHA HLUSHCHENKO – THURSDAY, 23 JUNE 2022, 07:18

Russia has deployed tank units and up to one battalion tactical group on the Sloviansk and Bakhmut fronts and is preparing to deploy heavy flamethrower systems [often referring to multiple rocket launchers capable of using thermobaric warheads - ed.].

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 23 June

Details: On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus are conducting "mobilisation exercises" in Gomel Oblast (Belarus), near the state border with Ukraine, between 22 June and 1 July 2022. The exercises will involve "practising" the call-up of reserve military personnel.

As part of the exercises, Belarusian special operations units will train with military instructors from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Particular attention will be given to sabotage and reconnaissance activities.

On the Sivershchyna front, units of Russian troops – including up to three battalion tactical groups from the 1st Tank Army of the Western Military District and several airborne units – continue to be deployed near the Russian-Ukrainian border in the Bryansk and Kursk oblasts of Russia. Russian forces are reinforcing defence positions in the area near the village of Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast, Russia. Russian troops continue to fire on units of Ukrainian Defence Forces in the border areas of Sumy Oblast, Ukraine.

On the Kharkiv front, Russian units are focused on preventing Ukrainian Defence Forces from approaching Russian occupying forces on the Sloviansk front from the rear. Russia conducted aerial reconnaissance in the vicinity of Bairak and Rubizhne.

Russian troops on the Sloviansk front are focusing their efforts on improving their tactical positions and identifying weaknesses in Ukrainian defence. Russian forces are attempting to create favourable conditions to resume their offensive on the Izium – Barvinkove and Izium – Sloviansk fronts. Russia deployed up to two tank units near the city of Izium in order to strengthen its military presence in the area and is planning to deploy heavy flamethrower systems on the Sloviansk front.

On the Donetsk front, Russia’s main efforts are focused on establishing full control over the city of Sievierodonetsk, conducting assault operations in order to encircle Ukrainian troops in Lysychansk, and blocking the main supply routes of the Ukrainian forces in the area.

On the Sievierodonetsk front, Russian occupying forces have captured the villages of Loskutivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka and are storming the village of Syrotyne in order to establish full control over it. They are preparing to force a crossing over the Siversky Donets River.

On the Bakhmut front, Russian occupying forces are advancing on Zolote and Vovchiarivka. They are trying to bolster their dominance over strategic heights in the area of Berestove in order to establish full control over the main road between Bakhmut and Lysychansk [which is the main supply route between the two cities - ed.]. Up to one battalion tactical group from the Central Military District of the Russian Armed Forces has been deployed near Novotoshkivske in order to reinforce Russia’s presence in the area.

Russia did not undertake active combat operations on the Kramatorsk, Avdiivka, Kurakhove, Novopavlivka, and Zaporizhzhia fronts, but fired on Ukrainian Defence Forces in order to prevent their transfer to other, more active, fronts.

On the Pivdennyi Buh front, Russian occupying forces focused their main efforts on preventing the Armed Forces of Ukraine from mounting a counter-offensive in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. Russian forces performed combat engineering tasks to reinforce their positions.

Russia deployed additional artillery units on the Mykolaiv front. It is possible that Russian occupying forces might attempt to conduct assault operations on the Kyselivka – Posad-Pokrovske and Oleksandrivka – Lupareve fronts in order to advance to the administrative borders of Kherson Oblast.

On the Kryvyi Rih front, Russian forces are performing combat engineering tasks to reinforce their positions.

Ships from the Russian Black Sea fleet continue to isolate the area of hostilities and conduct reconnaissance in the waters of the Black and Azov seas. Russia continues to block all civilian chipping in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

Five naval cruise missile carriers (equipped with an array of up to 40 Calibre-type cruise missiles) are at the ready to conduct missile attacks in the Black Sea.