Russia is gathering an army near Izyum/Getty Images
Russia plans to use Izyum in the Kharkiv region as a springboard to attack the Donbass from the north. The occupiers are concentrating their troops there.
It is from Izyum that two roads open for the Russian occupiers. One – to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, which is nearby. The second road is to Barvenkovo, from where it will be possible for Ukrainian forces in Slavyansk to enter from the rear.
To attack and advance along the northern axis of Donbass, Russia deployed 22 battalion tactical groups near Izyum. Such data is provided by British intelligence.
Important!Typically in Russia, each battalion tactical group has approximately 600 to 800 officers and men, of which approximately 200 infantrymen equipped with vehicles typically include approximately 10 tanks and 40 infantry fighting vehicles. For the attack, the Russians gathered from 13,000 to 18,000 soldiers and about 1,000 armored vehicles. In total, Russia in August 2021 announced the presence of 170 battalion tactical groups. How many of them remained after 70 days of war against Ukraine is unknown.
British intelligence notes that for now the goal of the Russian invaders is the capture of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk.
“The capture of these places will consolidate Russian military control over the northeastern Donbass and become a springboard for their efforts to cut off Ukrainian forces in the region,” – stated in the British intelligence.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirms the offensive from Izyum towards Slavyansk. They reported that on May 3, the enemy tried to conduct offensive operations in the direction of the settlement of Dovgenkoye. It is on the highway between Izyum and Slavyansk just on the border of Kharkov and Donetsk regions. But without success.
It is worth adding that on May 3, only in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, twelve enemy attacks were repulsed, six tanks, five artillery systems were destroyed (three of them were multiple launch rocket systems), fifteen units combat armored vehicles and nine vehicles of the enemy. The enemy also has losses in other directions.
