Capture of Bilohorivka: Russia's new claim in Luhansk offensive
20 May 2024 16:43
On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that Russian forces had completely captured a small town in the Luhansk region. Since autumn 2022, Bilohorivka has been considered one of the last strongholds of the Ukrainian army in this region.
Many of the reports by Russian state media or Kremlin officials may not be accurate. Such reports could be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
The Russian Ministry of Defence’s profile on Telegram announced the capture of Bilohorivka, which was then cited by the Reuters news agency.
The ministry stated that the "North" group of forces breached Ukraine's defensive line. The 42nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was allegedly defeated near the town of Hluboke, and two counterattacks by assault groups were repelled in the areas of Vovchansk and Starytsia in the Kharkiv region.
Meanwhile, the "West" group of forces defeated formations of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 1st Brigade of the National Guard in the area of Chervonaya Dibrova and Kuzmine in the Luhansk region.
According to the Russians, the "South" group "completely liberated" a village in this area. This changes the balance of power which had been in place since autumn 2022.
Russians report progress on the front. claim they captured a Ukrainian stronghold in the Luhansk region
The Russians have not captured the entire Luhansk region, where the Kremlin established its authorities. From the towns of Bilohorivka and Verkhnokamyanka in the western part of the region, near the border with the Donetsk region, Ukrainian forces were able to push back Putin's troops.
Since that time, the Ukrainian side has maintained that the Russians do not fully control the Luhansk region. If the reports of the Russian ministry are accurate, Ukraine has lost a significant stronghold in the Luhansk region.
