Start of the bridgehead Northeast and Southeast of Borova
On January 5th, geolocated footage published on January 4 indicated that Russian forces recently advanced in the fields northwest of Lozova during a company-sized mechanized assault while also attacking north of Borova near Zahryzove, east of Borova near Nadiya, Pershotravneve, Novoserhiivka, Novoyehorivka, and Tverdokhlibove; and southeast of Borova near Makiivka but with no confirmed advances. During the assault on Zahryzove, Ukrainian forces reported damaging two Russian armored vehicles. [9] [10]
A few days later on January 7th, Pro-Ukrainian source deepstate confirmed that Lozova, which is a village in the Izium district of Kharkiv Oblast, is under Russian control [11] [12] despite Ukrainian claims that Lozova is still under Ukrainian control. [13] Deepstate also reported that in the earlier hours on 7th January, Russian forces occupied Lozova as well as the villages of Ivanivka and Shevchenko in Donetsk Oblast and after that, Russian Forces attempted to move towards Nova Kruhliakivka but failed to do so. [14] [15]
On January 13th, geolocated footage published indicated that Russian forces advanced west of Makiivka, which is southeast of Borova. A Russian milblogger further claimed that Russian forces are clearing Ukrainian forces in Zahryzove, which is northeast of Borova and Zeleny Hai, and that Russian forces established an unspecified crossing over the Oskil River between Kruhlyakivka and Senkove, which are both northeast of Borova. [16] [17]
On January 17th, geolocated footage published showed that Russian forces advanced east of Zeleny Hai, amid offensive operations and also attacked north of Borova in the direction of Novoplatonivka, northeast of Borova near Kruhlyakivka, Zeleny Hai, and Zahryzove, east of Borova near Kopanky; and southeast of Borova near Tverdokhlibove, Hrekivka, Makiivka, and Novoserhiivka. [18] [19] By January 21st, Russian sources claimed that Russian forces have seized the settlement of Zeleny Hai but could not be confirmed. [20]
On January 26th, geolocated footage published showed Russian soldiers raising a Russian flag in eastern Tverdokhlibove, southeast of Borova, indicating that Russian forces advanced to the eastern part of the settlement and seized Novoyehorivka which is east of the latter settlement. [21] [22]
On 4th February, Ukraine's Khortysia Group of Forces reported that Ukrainian forces advanced and recaptured positions in the Kupiansk axis. However, 2 days ago, ISW confirmed that Ukrainian forces advanced in central Zahryzove in the Borova Direction which was likely the advance that Khortysia Group of Force reported 2 days later. [23]
On February 11th, the Ukrainian General Staff published a map indicating that Russian forces likely recently advanced in fields north of Makiivka and A milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Zahryzove but was not confirmed. [24] One day later on February 12th, Russian forces further advanced to southern Makiivka. [25] [26] On February 13th, the Ukrainian Gneral staff published a map which showed that Russian forces likely recently advanced in fields west of Pershotravneve, east of Borova. [27] [28]
On Februrary 18th, geolocated footage published showed Russian forces conducting a platoon-sized mechanized assault southwest of Lozova. Thus, this indicated that Russian forces recently advanced in the area. [29]
After a short operational pause in the Borova direction, on March 6th, geolocated footage posted showed that Russian forces advanced in the fields west of Nadiya, east of Borova while also attacking northeast of Borova near Zahryzove and near Holubivka, southwest of Borova. [30] [31] However on March 16th, Ukrainian forces conducted a successful counterattack which resulted in Ukrainian forces regaining positions in southern Nadiya. [32] [33] On March 27th, there was likely a successful Ukrainian counterattack which resulted in Ukrainian forces advancing east of Zelenyi Hai as geolocated footage posted showed Russian forces striking Ukrainian positions east of the settlement. [34]
On April 1st, ISW reported that concentrated significantly superior forces near Lyman in Donetsk Oblast which is used for preparing an offensive against both Lyman and Borova. [35] Russia is likely preparing to launch the offensive before the end of the month through a force of about 30000 troops stationed in the Borova direction. [36] ISW also stated that Russian forces could use the extended bridgehead northeast of Lyman to seize Borova or Lyman in the coming months. [37] However, throughout the rest of April and the month of May, Russian forces made no confirmed advances.
