Russian troops cross intl border in Sumy region, advancing in east and in Zaporizhia region – ISW
Russian troops have recently crossed the international border in Sumy region, their advance has been recorded in Lymany direction, in the direction of Chasiv Yar and in Toretsk direction; in Kurakhove direction there have been mutual changes - Ukrainian forces have advanced to the center of Kostiantynopil, Russian forces - to the southwest of this settlement, there is an advance of Russian forces in Zaporizhia region.
This is stated in a review by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing geolocated footage published on March 16-18.
“Russian forces recently advanced across the international border in Sumy Oblast as part of continued ground operations to push Ukrainian forces from their remaining positions in Kursk Oblast. (…) Geolocated footage published on March 16 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in southwestern Basivka (near the international border in Sumy Oblast and west of Sudzha),” says a review posted on the ISW website on Wednesday.
According to the review, Russian forces attacked west of Sudzha near Gogolevka, south of Sudzha near Guyevo, and near the international border in Sumy Oblast near Basivka on March 18.
At the same time the ISW notes that “Russian sources claimed on March 18 that Ukrainian forces attacked along the Sumy-Belgorod Oblast border southeast of the remaining Ukrainian positions in Kursk Oblast.” In addition, the Institute analysts referred to Russian milbloggers, who claimed that “Ukrainian forces attacked with tank, armored vehicle, and mine-clearing vehicle support from Sumy Oblast toward Demidovka, Grafovka, and Prilesye (northwest of Belgorod City) and that Russian forces repelled the attack.” Several Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces reached the 14H-472 road southwest of Demidovka before Russian forces repelled the attack.
ISW also records the advancement of Russian troops in Lymany direction. “Geolocated footage published on March 18 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in a forested area west of Balka Zhuravka (formerly Nevske, northeast of Lyman).”
It is noted that Russian troops have recently advanced in the direction of Chasiv Yar. “Geolocated footage published on March 17 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced along Chekhova Street in western Chasiv Yar.”
Russian forces have recently advanced in Toretsk direction, as confirmed by geolocation footage published on March 17: “advanced in northern Toretsk and to a building in Tsentralna Mine in western Toretsk.”
Changes are reported in Kurakhove direction. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have advanced there. “Assessed Ukrainian advances: geolocated footage published on March 17 shows that Ukrainian forces recently advanced within central Kostiantynopil (west of Kurakhove). Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on March 18 shows that Russian forces recently advanced southwest of Kostiantynopil,” the Institute said in its report.
“Russian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast amid intensified Russian offensive operations in the area, likely as part of efforts to leverage Russia's deliberate stalling of the temporary ceasefire proposal to make battlefield gains,” the Institute for the Study of War notes that geolocation footage released on March 18 shows that Russian troops have recently advanced into eastern Stepne (east of Kamyanske).