Day: January 2, 2025

Balakliia and Izium are considered key targets for the enemy because of their strategic location. Through these areas, Russia could attempt flanking maneuvers to advance on the Donetsk region, stated Ivan Tymochko, head of the Council of Reservists of the Ground Forces, in a commentary to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.

“Balakliia and Izium are in the way. From the north, they lead towards Chuhuiv and Kharkiv, and from the southwest, they open the way to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk,” Tymochko explained.

He noted that these cities hold significant strategic importance for the further advance of Russian forces.

Tymochko emphasized that controlling these territories would enable the enemy to launch offensives from two directions simultaneously. According to him, Russian forces had planned their campaign in the Kharkiv region with the goal of regaining lost positions.

The enemy’s strategy, according to Tymochko, was to bypass defense positions and renew the advance on the Donetsk region. He highlighted that the Russian army realized it could not capture Chasiv Yar through a frontal assault and might resort to flanking maneuvers.

“This was their calculation. They saw they couldn’t take Chasiv Yar through a frontal assault. The fighting continues now, as it lies on the route towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. So they tried a flanking maneuver – or, rather, they might try again,” Tymochko stated.

He also stressed that current discussions about such enemy actions indicate that this scenario is once again being considered.

Earlier today, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, said that the cities of Izium and Balakliia in the Kharkiv region were being prepared for an all-around defense.

According to him, the construction of fortifications continues and these are planned activities.

Moreover, yesterday, Andrii Rubtsov, the communications officer of the 116th separate mechanized brigade, said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces recorded attempts by Russians to cross the Oskil River in the Kharkiv region on inflatable boats, but all attempts were unsuccessful.