Defense Ministry: Ukraine regains initiative near Kupiansk, continues offensive along southern front.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said[1] on Telegram on July 18 that "the enemy offensive in the Kupiansk direction is currently unsuccessful." The area is the location of heavy troop build-up by Russia. "The battles continue, but the initiative is already on our side," she added. Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, reported[2] on July 17 that Russia was concentrating "more than 100,000 personnel, more than 900 tanks, more than 555 artillery systems, 370 MLRS" in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction.

The region was liberated[3] in Ukraine's surprise counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast in September 2022. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine[4], 18 combat clashes took place during the day, with Russia focusing its main effforts on the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka axes. Malyar also stated that Ukrainian troops advanced on the southern flank of Bakhmut.

'It's a lottery': How Ukraine's assault brigade counterattacks near Bakhmut

Editor's note: The Kyiv Independent spent a day with soldiers from the 80th Separate Assault Brigade in June, and the story is comprised of interviews with them about their experience near Bakhmut. The soldiers are identified by their names or callsigns, and their deployment locations are not reveal...

Along the southern front, Malyar reported[6] that Ukrainian offensives were continuing towards Berdyansk and Melitopol. "In the direction of Mala Tokmachka-Novopokrovka and Velika Novosilka-Urozhayne, our defenders were successful."

Concerning the slow pace of the counter-offensive in the area, she added that "our troops have to move in extremely difficult conditions" and that Russian forces are making huge efforts to stop any advances. "Remember the liberation of Kherson - it also took more than one day."

Francis Farrell: As the world watches the counteroffensive, a sober hold on reality is Ukraine's greatest weapon This June was meant to be all about the great Ukrainian counteroffensive.

After months of waiting, dozens of public statements from exasperated Ukrainian officials bound to silence, and even more analyses from experts and commentators in the media, the moment finally came when Ukrainian soldiers on...

Elsa Court is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. She was previously an intern at the Kyiv Post and has a Master's in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from Utrecht University. Before joining the Kyiv Independent, she worked at the Netherlands Red Cross programme to arrange hosts for Ukrainian refugees and as a freelance writer and editor.

References

1. ^ said (t.me)
2. ^ reported (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ liberated (kyivindependent.com)
4. ^ General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (www.facebook.com)
5. ^ 'It's a lottery': How Ukraine's assault brigade counterattacks near BakhmutEditor's note: The Kyiv Independent spent a day with soldiers from the 80th Separate Assault Brigade in June, and the story is comprised of interviews with them about their experience near Bakhmut.

   The soldiers are identified by their names or callsigns, and their deployment locations are not reveal... (kyivindependent.com)

6. ^ reported (t.me)
7. ^ Francis Farrell: As the world watches the counteroffensive, a sober hold on reality is Ukraine's greatest weaponThis June was meant to be all about the great Ukrainian counteroffensive.

   After months of waiting, dozens of public statements from exasperated Ukrainian officials bound to silence, and even more analyses from experts and commentators in the media, the moment finally came when Ukrainian soldiers on... (kyivindependent.com)