Russia's Defense Ministry is reporting alleged battlefield successes on Max, but some of its claims lack evidence. Even Russian military bloggers are questioning claims that Ukrainian forces have been encircled in the Kharkiv region, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
On October 9, Russia's Defense Ministry published its weekly battlefield update exclusively on Max. The ministry claimed that Russian forces had allegedly captured two Ukrainian settlements between October 3 and 9, and three more in the preceding 24 hours.
Russia also claimed that its troops had thwarted Ukrainian attempts to rotate forces or break out of an alleged encirclement near Dobropillia in the Donetsk region and near Chorne, northeast of Kharkiv.
Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that units of its Northern Group of Forces had captured 414 square kilometers of territory and 20 settlements in the Kharkiv region after allegedly encircling Ukrainian forces.
ISW considers these claims exaggerated and insufficiently supported by evidence. Ukrainian military officials have not confirmed that their units were encircled in the northern Kharkiv region. Russian military bloggers also expressed doubts about the claims.
The Russian ministry's report also referred to long-range strikes against Ukrainian defense industry facilities, telecommunications centers, and dry cargo vessels over the previous week.
ISW analysts...
Russia's Defense Ministry is reporting alleged battlefield successes on Max, but some of its claims lack evidence. Even Russian military bloggers are questioning claims that Ukrainian forces have ...