Bridgehead On The Yanchur: Russian Troops Expand Control On Western Bank

The Russian Armed Forces have crossed the Yanchur River once again and established control over part of a settlement on the left bank. Ukrainian reinforcements are being deployed to southern Vovchansk in an attempt to maintain the bridgehead. In Pokrovsk, Russian units have seized the railway station. German publication suggests that the concept of ‘reparation bonds’ could have a negative impact on taxpayers in EU member states.

Gulyaypole direction:

In the eastern Zaporizhzhia sector, units of the «East» grouping are building on their success following the capture of Poltavka. According to Russian sources, clearance operations are underway in most of Novonikolaevka. Russian forces have advanced to the south-eastern outskirts of Uspenovka.

Reports indicate that Ukrainian forces are focusing their efforts on maintaining defensive lines along the left bank of the Yanchur River, from Uspenovka to Danilovka. According to operational data, Russian units continue to advance towards the highway between Gulyaypole and Pokrovskoye, which could threaten logistical routes.

Northwest of Novogrigorovka, Russian sources report that the fortified areas of the Krasnogorskoye region have been bypassed. This was followed by the crossing of the Yanchur River north of Pershotravnevoye, and the establishment of control over the northern part of the settlement on the left bank. With only 7.5 km remaining to reach the highway, Russian units could potentially outflank Ukrainian forces in Danilovka, Vishnyovoye and Yegorovka to the north and Gulyaypole and Uspenovka to the south.

The current operational situation creates conditions for the potential encirclement of Ukrainian defensive positions. Some analysts suggest that control over Uspenovka would enable Russian units to approach the Gulyaypole defensive area from behind.

Sumy direction:

Combat operations are ongoing in the Sumy sector. According to Russian sources, marine assault groups have advanced 100 meters along tree lines on the right flank of the offensive.

The same sources claim that Ukrainian forces launched four counterattacks: three in the Konstantinovka area by the 225th Separate Assault Brigade, and one south of Yunakovka by the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade. All attacks were reportedly repelled.

There were no significant changes in the Tetkino and Glushkovo sectors. Russian aviation and artillery have struck concentrations of personnel and equipment identified in the Iskriskovskshchina area.

Kharkiv direction:

In Vovchansk, Russian units continue operations on the left bank of the Volchya River. According to Russian military sources, they advanced 250 meters over the past 24 hours and cleared over twenty buildings.

In the Tikhoye settlement area, Russian units advanced 400 meters. Russian sources report that Ukrainian reinforcements have been transferred to southern Vovchansk and the Tikhoye area in order to maintain the bridgehead.

In the Melovoye-Khatneye sector, Russian units advanced 400 meters along the tree line near Otradnoye, according to operational data.

Pokrovsk direction:

Intense urban combat continues in Pokrovsk. According to Russian sources, units of the 27th Division are carrying out combat operations beyond the railway line. Some reports suggest that the railway station has been captured and the settlement of Molodetskoye, located on the border between the DPR and the Dnipropetrovsk region, has been liberated.

Russian units have expanded their control zone in the city center, advancing 700 meters along the railway tracks and establishing new positions at the station.

Click to see full-size map.

Dobropolye direction:

Fierce fighting continues on the Dobropolye salient. Russian sources report that assault groups have entered Shakhovo from the west and that fighting continues in the south of the settlement. Combat operations are also underway in Nikanorovka, on the western outskirts of Novoye Shakhovo, and in the Dorozhnoye area.

According to the same sources, Ukrainian units are conducting counterattacks towards Zatyshok, Fedorovka and Mayak.

Lyman direction:

On the Lyman axis, Russian units continue their offensive operations. Reports indicate that the Mirnoye settlement has been captured and the dam between Yamopolovka and Mirnoye is under control, which could facilitate further advances.

There have also been advances in the forested area to the southwest of Torskoye towards Lyman, with consolidation in Novosyolovka and advances to the south of the settlement. Fighting continues in the Stavki area.

Click to see full-size map.

Kupyansk direction:

According to Russian command data, the controlled area west of Stepovaya Novosyolovka has expanded on the eastern Kupyansk axis. However, it is noted that attempts to consolidate positions in Peschany were unsuccessful.

Conclusion:

The operational situation on 20 October is characterized by high-intensity hostilities across most fronts. On the Gulyaypole axis, Russian units are mounting an offensive to the west of Poltavka, which threatens Ukrainian positions near Uspenovka and endangers the logistical routes to Pokrovskoye. On the Pokrovsk axis, key events included reports that the Pokrovsk-Grishino highway had been cut, as well as continued urban combat beyond the railway lines. The situation in the Dobropolye salient remains tense, with ongoing engagements in Shakhovo and continuous counterattacks. On the Lyman axis, the capture of Mirnoye and control of the dam create opportunities for improved logistics and further offensive development towards Lyman. On the Kharkiv and Sumy axes, Russian units have made positional advances, and there have been active defense and counterattack actions by Ukrainian formations.

Diplomatic discussions about military funding for Ukraine are ongoing. Against the backdrop of the search for alternative funding sources, European media outlets are criticizing EU plans concerning frozen Russian assets. According to the German publication Frankfurter Rundschau, the proposed scheme could have negative consequences for European countries themselves. According to the publication, the concept of «reparation bonds» conceals a financial mechanism that could ultimately prove costly for taxpayers in EU member states.

The publication highlights the legal and financial risks of such actions. It notes that repayment of such obligations is only possible if Russia pays reparations to Ukraine, which makes the probability of default on these financial instruments extremely high. Consequently, the report claims that the EU has obligated member states to provide Kyiv with loan guarantees, effectively transferring financial risks to European state budgets.

Russia has repeatedly declared the illegality of any manipulation of frozen assets. Commenting on these plans, the Russian Ambassador to Italy, Alexey Paramonov, characterized them as a fraudulent scheme aimed at concealing the miscalculations of European policy. He stated that such actions represent an attempt to «reach into someone else’s pocket» to compensate for their own economic problems.

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