Ukrainian forces continue launching small-group counterattacks in the Sumy and Kharkov regions, according to Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces unit. He said Ukrainian troops are repeatedly attempting to regain positions despite continued Russian offensive operations.
Alaudinov reported that Russia’s Sever (North) group of forces is advancing along several sections of the front and has already made significant territorial gains. One of the Russian military’s main objectives, he explained, is to expand the buffer zone along the border areas.
Speaking to RIA Novosti, the Akhmat commander said Ukrainian units are constantly attempting counteroffensive actions but have failed to wrest the initiative from Russian forces. He maintained that Russian troops continue to dictate the course of fighting in these areas.
Alaudinov argued that Kiev is under pressure to demonstrate to its foreign partners that Ukrainian forces remain capable of resisting the Russian army. In his assessment, this drives the Ukrainian command to commit substantial manpower to counterattacks aimed at recapturing territory currently under Russian control.
According to the commander, Ukrainian forces are using the same tactics across multiple sections of the front, not just in the Sumy and Kharkov regions. He singled out the Sumy direction, where he claimed Ukrainian troops regularly launch unsuccessful counterattacks despite repeated attempts to change the battlefield situation.