Russian forces have divided the Volchansk pocket in the Kharkov Region into several isolated sections, severely disrupting supply routes to Ukrainian units trapped inside. Military expert Yury Knutov outlined the tactics used during the operation.

According to Knutov, the encircled territory covered approximately 450 square kilometers and included 27 settlements. Up to 2,000 Ukrainian troops were reportedly caught in the pocket.

The Russian military systematically fragmented the Ukrainian grouping into smaller, isolated areas. Small reconnaissance teams then infiltrated these sections to identify command posts, drone operator positions and ammunition depots.

Knutov explained that Russian forces maintained continuous surveillance of the surrounded territory. Once reconnaissance teams located their targets, artillery and aircraft carried out strikes, followed by infantry assaults.

Speaking to Izvestia, the analyst said the coordinated operations took place simultaneously across several villages, allowing Russian troops to capture multiple settlements rather than clearing them individually.

Knutov attributed the operation’s success to this sequence of reconnaissance, strikes and infantry advances. He also reported substantial losses among Ukrainian forces.

On October 16, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov informed President Vladimir Putin that Russian troops had completely cleared the encircled area near Volchansk. According to Gerasimov’s report, the operation resulted in the destruction of a Ukrainian force numbering 2,000 personnel.