UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 495 - JULY 1, 2023

According to Russian sources, on July 1, Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensives in at least four sectors of the front line.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks in the area of Bakhmut and along the front line between Avdiivka and Donetsk city. According to Russian military bloggers, Ukrainian forces made minor advancements near Rozdolivka (18 km north of Bakhmut) and unspecified advancements near Klyshchyvka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut). Russian sources also suggest that Ukrainian forces continued their offensive operations along the administrative boundary between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts, and made gains southwest of Velyka Novosilka. Russian sources claim that Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations south and southwest of Orikhiv in western Zaporizhzhia oblast, with a military blogger suggesting that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 1.5 km deep and 6 km wide towards Robitne (12 km south of Orikhiv). Other military bloggers observe that Ukrainian forces were at least 1.5 km north of Robitne on July 1, in line with ISW's current assessment of control of the area.

Russian propagandists are likely conducting an information campaign to destroy the reputation of the Wagner Group as a highly effective combat unit, in order to support the efforts of the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) to dissolve the Wagner Group and integrate former Wagner fighters into MoD structures.

The full Russian Offensive Update 495 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR