Ukraine appears to have won battle of Kharkiv, says ISW

Due to the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian military probably decided to completely abandon their positions around Kharkiv
Due to the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian military probably decided to completely abandon their positions around Kharkiv

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ISW said that Russian units have generally not attempted to hold ground against counterattacking Ukrainian forces over the past several days, with a few exceptions.

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"Ukraine thus appears to have won the Battle of Kharkiv," reads the assessment.

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"Ukrainian forces prevented Russian troops from encircling, let alone seizing Kharkiv, and then expelled them from around the city, as they did to Russian forces attempting to seize Kyiv."

According to ISW, the main Russian effort continues to be the attempt to encircle Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, in Donbas, from the north and from the south.