Russian Forces Gain Advantage Across the Oskil River in Eastern Ukraine
In a potentially concerning development, Russian troops have succeed in establishing a foothold beyond the Oskil River in eastern Ukraine, a strategic waterway that hitherto divided the opposing positions, according to a local Ukrainian official cited by French Press Agency (AFP). This development underscores the mounting challenges faced by Kyiv on the battlefield, writes Bulgaria’s BTA.
Over the past few months, the Russian army has repeatedly attempted to traverse the river, which originates in Russia and flows through the heavily fortified Ukrainian city of Kupiansk. The latest incursion seeks to reinforce Russian presence in the town of Dvorichna on the river’s right bank and expand the overall bridgehead, reported Andriy Besedin, head of the Kupiansk military administration, to Ukrainian television.
"This situation is extremely difficult for our forces," Besedin said, warning of potential risks to the Ukrainian flanks. The Russian troops’ recent crossings mark a turnaround from early 2022, when they surged across the Oskil with ease before being pushed back later that year by a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Moreover, Besedin revealed that Russian forces have crept to within just 2 kilometers of Kupiansk, a city of approximately 25,000 people before the conflict, serving as a key Ukrainian stronghold in this frontline sector. The ongoing Russian push involves persistent attempted storming operations, he added.
This Oskil incursion is but one recent sign of Ukrainian difficulties on various fronts. On Monday, Moscow claimed to have seized the strategically vital town of Kurakhove to the south, though Kyiv maintains it has yet to cede the position. Both sides are strengthening their positions before former U.S. President Donald Trump‘s expected return to the White House, with Trump expressing a desire to hasten the war’s end, without providing concrete plans.
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