Diversionary measures: Russia finally comments on Ukrainian liberation of places in Kharkiv Oblast

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – SATURDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2022, 17:24

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation claimed that they had relocated troops from Balakliia and Izium in Kharkiv Oblast to the Donetsk front to achieve the goals of the "special military operation", and also conducted a number of diversionary measures and demonstrative activities.

Source: Kremlin-aligned news outlet RIA Novosti, citing Russian Ministry of Defence

Quote: "In order to achieve the declared goals of the special military operation to liberate Donbas, it was decided to regroup the Russian forces stationed in Balakliia and Izium so as to increase efforts on the Donetsk front.

For this purpose, an operation to withdraw the troops from Izium-Balakliia and transfer them to the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic had been carried out over the last three days."

During this operation, a number of diversionary and demonstrative activities were carried out with an indication of the real actions of the Russian troops."

Details: The Russian Ministry of Defence also claims that in order to prevent harm to the Russian troops, they inflicted "powerful fire damage using aviation, missile forces and artillery" on the Ukrainian military.

Background:

• On 8 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the city of Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast had been liberated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
• On 9 September, Zelenskyy reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had  liberated over 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region
• On 10 September, Nataliia Popova, adviser to the head of the Kharkiv Regional Council, reported that  the Armed Forces of Ukraine had liberated the city of Kupiansk from the occupiers.
• On the same day, it became known that Russian troops had left the city of Izium and some other settlements in Kharkiv Oblast.
• Russia has not officially commented on the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkiv Oblast. In particular, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation made no mention of this at its daily briefings on 9 and 10 September.

See also: Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast, what is already known.

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