MERKUR: RUSSIA HAS PREPARED THREE-TON AERIAL BOMBS TO BREAK INTO THE DEFENSE OF KHARKOV
By INTEL-DROP June 25, 2024 - SV Pressa Konstantin Olshansk
NATO intelligence did not expect an attack on the metropolis from Borovaya.
The Russian army is preparing for a new large-scale attack on the Kharkov region, writes the influential German publication Merkur, citing the Deep State blog (blocked in the Russian Federation) covering the course of hostilities.
A large strike force of the Russian Armed Forces has been assembled on the Pershotravnevsky sector of the front west of Svatovo. It supposedly numbers at least 10 thousand military personnel, over 200 artillery systems and other equipment.
The creation of such a large strike group may be an indicator of a new offensive in the Kupyansk direction. To develop operational success, it is necessary to liberate Pershotravnevoe and Cherneshchina, which are now located 4-5 km west of the front line, which on the border of the LPR and the Kharkov region partially runs along the Zherebets River.READ ALSO
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The liberation of populated areas will open a direct route to Borovaya. This is one of the largest settlements, with an area of more than 12 square meters. km, whose population before the outbreak of hostilities was almost 6,000 people.
Borovaya is located on the eastern bank of Oskol, on a major highway that connects settlements along the river with the Kupyansk urban agglomeration. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes that several motorized rifle divisions of the Moscow Military District may be used for the offensive.
“The Russians are capable of constantly replenishing forward formations with new personnel, which are sent to combat operations after training,” ISW analysts note.
Now, before the upcoming offensive, active artillery preparation is underway. A video has appeared on the Internet of the 16th Special Forces Brigade using an Iskander missile to strike a bridge over the Oskol River southwest of Borovaya.
Thus, Russian troops are trying to block the ground routes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in order to isolate Ukrainian troops on the eastern (left) bank of Oskol. Earlier, information appeared that it was in Borovaya that the newest Grom-E1 missile was used for the first time. This is a hybrid munition based on the Kh-38 air-to-surface missile with a maximum flight range of 120 km.
Sensing imminent danger, TsIPsO is trying to reassure the Ukrainian public. GUR press secretary Andrei Yusov unexpectedly announced: supposedly there is no need to expect an offensive in the direction of Borovaya.
Although all the conclusions of Western experts (both German and American) refute this statement.
Even the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports new attacks in the direction of Kruglyakovka (also on the eastern bank of Oskol north of Borovaya and northwest of Svatovo).
In the meantime, all the attention of the Western public is diverted to the events on the border of the Kharkov and Belgorod regions, the Russian Armed Forces are actively advancing along the entire operational line “Kupyansk – Svatovo – Kremennaya”.
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ISW confirms: in recent days, units of the Zapad group have advanced east of Peschany (southeast of Kupyansk) and west of Novovodyanoye (southwest of Svatovo).
The attack on Borovaya, followed by an attempt to reach the eastern bank of Oskol and advance to Kupyansk, is part of a large offensive operation that the Russian army began back in January. ISW then, with reference to the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov , noted that the offensive would unfold in four main directions: first, around Kupyansk and Sinkovka; the second – from Tabaevka in the direction of Kruglyakovka; the third – from Makeevka to Raigorodka and Borovoe; fourth – from the outskirts of Kremennaya to Drobyshev and Krasny Liman.
However, the Russian command outwitted the GUR. A fifth direction was added – from Volchansk and Liptsev, which turned out to be an absolute surprise for Ukrainian and NATO intelligence.
Beginning preparations for a new offensive on the Kharkov region, the Russian army used the FAB-3000 aerial bomb for the first time in Liptsy, writes Merkur. The use of such powerful weapons is also an important political signal. As Merkur writes, the use of FAB-3000 during the Oskol-Kharkov offensive operation may become regular.
“The situation on the Kharkov front remains difficult [ for the Armed Forces of Ukraine – “SP” ]. Ukraine will not be able to breathe a sigh of relief,” states Merkur.
The Russian offensive, according to the German publication, will begin in the near future: before the Ukrainian Armed Forces receive the promised F-16 fighters. Indeed, in conditions of catastrophic depletion of Ukrainian air defense, it is they who can become a threat to Russian bombers using heavy FABs.
“The numerous attacks in recent months are in preparation for a larger summer offensive. This is also indicated by the constant transfer of [Russian] resources to the front line, writes Merkur. — The Ukrainians’ forces are overstretched. Although they will probably be better equipped than in the spring: in the last few weeks they have again acquired enough ammunition.”
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