A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

Sep 7, 2022

Ukraine Offensive Reportedly Encircles Russian Force Near Kharkiv

Russian bloggers, again proving to be an excellent source of information about their troops' performance and situation, are reporting that substantial numbers of special purpose police units from Russia have been surrounded by Ukrainian forces in their surprise Kharkiv area offensive. 

The Russians are reporting that their troops were not well trained in the use of their weapons - including tanks - and that the Russian air force, fearful of Ukrainian anti-aircraft weapons, were only willing to provide support from extreme distances, lessening their effectiveness. JL 

Isabel van Brugen reports in Newsweek:

Russian troops may be encircled in Balakliya, an occupied town near Kharkiv.  "As of yesterday evening, the enemy managed to take the garrison of Balakliya, capturing the settlements of Volokhov Yar and Verbovka." Pro-Russian Telegram channels also reported the loss of their positions, saying that fighters with the special purpose police units from the Samara region and Bashkortostan were surrounded by Ukrainian troops. New Russian recruits didn't know how to use heavy weaponry in Balakliya. "There has been an "unfortunate lack of training. (Plus) "Russian aviation...preferred to fire at the enemy from the maximum possible distances, which significantly affected the effectiveness of strikes."

Russian troops may be encircled in Balakliya, an occupied town near Kharkiv, a former Russian military leader has said, amid reports of a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the region.

Igor Girkin, who prefers to go by Igor Strelkov, published his assessment of the situation on his Telegram channel as reports emerged that Ukraine's armed forces had launched an unexpected offensive on the Kharkiv front on Wednesday.

"The enemy yesterday launched an offensive that they had been preparing for a long time (judging by the transfer of reserves), inflicting the main blow in the area of the city of Balakliya," wrote Girkin.

The former military leader, citing sources, said Russia's troops failed to contain Ukraine's soldiers.

"As of yesterday evening, the enemy managed to take the garrison of Balakliya into an operational recruitment, capturing the settlements of Volokhov War and Verbovka," he wrote.

On Telegram, Girkin also said new Russian recruits didn't know how to use heavy weaponry in Balakliya, and suggested that there has been an "unfortunate lack of training."

"Russian aviation...preferred to fire at the enemy from the maximum possible distances, which significantly affected the effectiveness of strikes," he wrote.

Girkin also cited his sources as saying Ukraine is delivering attacks with "outstanding audacity" and "on armor and wheels...seizing positions."

He acknowledged reports that two units of the Russian SOBR (Special Response Unit) are reportedly surrounded in the area.

"Russian aviation...preferred to fire at the enemy from the maximum possible distances, which significantly affected the effectiveness of strikes."

 

Pro-Russian Telegram channels have also reported the loss of their positions and the successes of the Ukrainian army in the region, saying that fighters with the special purpose police units from the Samara region and Bashkortostan were surrounded by Ukrainian troops.

A pro-Kremlin Telegram channel run by blogger Volodymyr Romanov reported that a Russian unit was surrounded near Balakliya. The Rosich Telegram channel also wrote that the fighters of the SOBR were surrounded.Newsweek has been unable to independently verify the claims, and has reached out to Russia's foreign ministry for comment.

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