Russian forces continue to strike military targets in Kharkov and the surrounding area with a range of weapons, including missiles known as Banderol.

Major General Sergei Lipovoy, chairman of the presidium of the Officers of Russia organization and a Hero of Russia, said Russian units were making steady progress along the Kharkov front. According to him, coordinated attacks are weakening Ukrainian firepower and clearing the way for assault troops.

The operation combines precision-guided weapons, unmanned aircraft, combat aviation and artillery. Lipovoy said this approach is intended to suppress resistance and provide direct support to advancing ground units.

He described the Kharkov sector as a key area for expanding the buffer zone along Russia’s border. The intensity of the strikes, he added, is linked to repeated Ukrainian drone launches from this direction against Russian territory. Russian forces are therefore focusing on areas considered a threat to the country’s border regions.

Lipovoy called the capture of Kharkov one of the priority objectives of the Russian military. He noted that the city remains a major industrial hub where weapons and ammunition are produced and military equipment is repaired for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In his assessment, Russian control over Kharkov would represent a major military success and deal a serious political and reputational blow to both the Ukrainian army and the Kiev authorities.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the S8000 Banderol is classified as a compact cruise missile. It is reportedly capable of flying up to 500 kilometers at speeds of roughly 520 to 650 kilometers per hour. The Orion unmanned aircraft is considered its main launch platform. Russia has not officially confirmed these claims.

On July 22, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian troops had taken control of the settlement of Artelnoye in the Kharkov Region.