Update 17 iulie

ISW

Russian forces are continuing a measured return from the operational pause and conducted limited ground attacks in Donetsk Oblast on July 17. As ISW has previously noted, the end of the Russian operational pause is unlikely to create a massive new wave of ground assaults across multiple axes of advance despite Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s public order for exactly that. Russian troops are prioritizing advances around Siversk and Bakhmut while maintaining defensive positions north of Kharkiv City and along the Southern Axis. Russian forces continued to set conditions for resumed offensives toward Slovyansk, shelled settlements along the Izyum-Slovyansk salient, and otherwise conducted artillery, missile, and air strikes throughout Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense notably did not claim any new territorial gains on July 17. ISW continues to forecast that the end of the operational pause will be characterized by a fluctuating and staggered resumption of ground offensives.

Key Takeaways

• Russian forces continued a measured return from the operational pause and did not make any confirmed territorial gains on July 17.
• Russian forces continued limited ground assaults around Siversk, Bakhmut, and Donetsk City and otherwise fired at civilian and military infrastructure throughout the Donbas.
• Russian forces focused on defensive operations north of Kharkiv City and along the Southern Axis.
• The Kremlin may be setting long-term conditions for force generation efforts in anticipation of protracted hostilities in Ukraine.
• Russian occupation authorities are likely using the threat of partisan activities to justify harsher societal controls in occupied areas.

(https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-17)

Militaryland

Kharkiv & Chuhuiv direction

• Based on the recently released footage, Russian troops are much closer to Dementievka than we originally thought.

Bakhmut Front

• Russian troops attacked Ukrainian positions at Semyhirya and Novoluhanske from the direction of Dolomite. Both attacks were repulsed by the defenders.
• The enemy tried to advance in the direction Roty – Vershyna, but without success and retreated.
• Russian forces have stormed Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of Vuhlehirsk powerplant, the fighting is ongoing.

Slovyansk direction

• The enemy tried to improve its positions near Ivano-Darivka and Hryhorivka, but they were caught by Ukrainian troops and were forced to retreat.
• Russian forces attempt to advance towards Siversk, most likely through the forest area south of Hryhorivka. The fighting continues.
• Ukrainian Special unit Kraken raided Russian positions at Bilohorivka and captured several Russian soldiers. The settlement is, given the footage, correctly marked as contested.
• Based on the recently released footage and reports by Ukrainian General Staff, Ukrainian forces control at least a part of Verkhnokamyanska settlement.
• Russian troops once again tried to break through Ukrainian lines near Berestove, Bilohorivka and Yakovlivka, didn’t have success and retreated.

Donetsk Oblast

• Russian troops tried to advance in the vicinity of Pavlivka and Novomykhailivka. Both attacks were repulsed by Ukrainian defenders.