The Russian military command continues to exaggerate the scale of its alleged “successes” in the Kharkiv region, while in reality sending exhausted, wounded, and poorly trained soldiers to the front lines. This was reported in a new assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Source: Pryamyi
Analysts note that on October 23, Russian forces attempted offensive operations in the northern part of the Sumy region but failed to make any real progress. Despite this, Russian official reports continue to claim “successes” in the area, creating a false impression of the situation on the front.
Even Russian military bloggers have criticized the Kremlin’s command. One admitted that orders to continue assaults in the Sumy region have only led to heavy losses, as the troops are effectively not advancing. Another reported that Russian forces are shelling Ukrainian communication lines near Yunakivka and Ivolzhanske, close to the city of Sumy.
A similar situation is unfolding in the Kharkiv direction — the enemy has no confirmed achievements. A milblogger associated with Russia’s Northern Group of Forces admitted that the command is greatly exaggerating its supposed gains near Synelnykove and that soldiers are being sent to the front without proper training, including those who have recently been discharged from hospitals.
A spokesperson for a Ukrainian unit fighting in northern Kharkiv region said that since May 2024, the Russian army has lost at least 15,000 soldiers killed in the Vovchansk direction alone, most of them mobilized troops without combat experience.
Russia managed to advance slightly only near Kupiansk, but even there, Ukrainian troops report mass assaults by poorly trained recruits who often lack even basic equipment. Due to logistical problems, Russian soldiers are reportedly forced to search for water by any means possible.
In the Lyman direction, the enemy also continued assault operations on October 23 but made no significant progress. Minor positional changes were recorded only near Siversk and in the Kostiantynivka–Druzhkivka area.
On the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka fronts, Russian forces also achieved no success. According to Ukrainian military reports, Russian commanders order their subordinates not to surrender and, even in hopeless situations, to commit suicide — spreading false claims about alleged mistreatment of prisoners by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Slight advances were observed in the Velykomykhailivka direction, where Russian forces are attempting to establish control along the border of the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions. Meanwhile, the front line in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions remains stable.