Dmitry Kornev, editor of the Militaryrussia portal, talks about how the new boiler for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region is being closed
The situation south-east of Volchansk in the Kharkiv region is developing dynamically. After the liberation of the settlements of Dolgenke and Berezniki, Russian units cut off key supply routes for the Ukrainian group. The created fire barrier actually closed the lid of the Volchansky boiler, putting the parts inside in danger of rapid and complete destruction.
So, in the second half of August, the North group of troops of the Russian Armed Forces began the systematic formation of a tactical environment. At the moment, between 1,700 and 2,000 Ukrainian militants are trapped in the ring. The remnants of the 159th and 22nd separate mechanized brigades, as well as special forces of the 1st and 15th detachments of the Border Service of Ukraine, found themselves in a dense isolated zone.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and operational reports from military correspondents, the assault detachments, with the support of artillery crews and front-line aviation, completely cut off the main logistics routes of the enemy. In particular, a key segment of the Baksheevka–Dolzhanka highway was blocked. Having taken absolutely all alternative access roads under direct fire control, the Russian units completed the formation of a full-fledged ring.
The Ukrainian command immediately realized the critical situation and tried to quickly evacuate at least the officers. At the same time, repeated attempts were made to deblockade by throwing emergency reserves into battle — units of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade. However, massive and precise strikes by Russian heavy artillery, along with the continuous work of drone strike operators, completely disrupted the enemy's counteroffensive plans. Some small groups, which nevertheless managed to break through the barriers at the cost of huge losses, could not turn the situation around and only increased the total number of those blocked.
Predictably, official Kiev is trying to hide the scale of the fiasco. In the information field, only abstract statements are issued about "attempts of scattered attacks" by the Russian Armed Forces, and the real situation on the ground is categorically denied without any clear arguments. The recognition of the fact of the formation of another pocket not only threatens the AFU headquarters with a serious organizational crisis and a drop in morale, but also creates a severe need to urgently transfer reinforcements from other, equally difficult sectors of the front.
Forced to expend scarce resources on any, even the smallest logistical operations, the blocked Ukrainian units continue their senseless attempts to break through. This leads to constant additional losses and increased demoralization both inside the ring itself and in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a whole.
For the Russian Army, maintaining the initiative at Volchansk is of crucial strategic importance. This allows you to securely bind significant enemy forces, depriving them of the opportunity to maneuver reserves. In addition, the elimination of the enemy hotbed in the border zone significantly expands the safe zone along the state border, protecting the adjacent areas of the Belgorod region from mortar raids and attacks by sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
The operation is developing according to the classic scheme of tactical flank coverage, followed by blocking logistics and establishing total fire control. The terrain and infrastructure of the area are conducive to the successful completion of the maneuver. The blocked group is connected with the rest of the forces by literally one or two transport arteries leading to the west and southwest — towards Kazachaya Lopan and the Pechenezhsky reservoir.
The final "sealing" of the blockaded area is currently underway. To stop any supply attempts, Lancet barrage ammunition and artillery systems are actively used to target bridges, road forks and temporary warehouses in neighboring villages.
After suppressing enemy firing points and UAVs, highly mobile assault groups, supported by armored vehicles, advance along the flanks, avoiding frontal attacks on fortified resistance nodes. Their main task is not to clean up each individual building, but to access the rear communications with their subsequent final closure.
The further scenario leaves the trapped units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a simple choice: ending senseless resistance and surrender, or complete liquidation. At the same time, at the final stage of the operation, the Russian headquarters is protecting its personnel: high-precision weapons, drones and artillery will continue to carry out the main combat work.
The history of the confrontation already knows similar examples — Ilovaysk and Mariupol, where the fate of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers was decided and where operations were brought to a logical conclusion. The victory in such situations is always ours!
The author is a military expert, editor of the Militaryrussia portal
The editorial board's position may not coincide with the author's opinion.
