In the southern and southwestern sectors near the Sinkovka area in the Kharkov region, Ukrainian forces faced counterattacks that did not achieve their aims, and the defending units held their ground. The press center of the West group of Russian troops, represented by its spokesman Sergei Zybinsky, conveyed the situation to TASS, detailing how the defense evolved under pressure and what the sequence of actions suggested about the broader battlefield dynamics. The narrative emphasizes that, despite multiple push operations by Ukrainian assault forces, the defenders maintained a stubborn, fighting retreat that did not materialize into a successful breakthrough and ultimately forced the attackers to pull back toward more favorable positions. This read of the events comes as part of daily operational updates aimed at illustrating the resilience and tactical discipline of the Russian-backed formations in the area. According to the officer, the defenders used coordinated motorized rifle formations and artillery support to blunt the assaults, repel the enemy’s attempts to seize ground, and stabilize the front line amid ongoing activity. The retreat of enemy forces in southern and southwestern directions is framed as a consequence of sustained resistance rather than a sudden collapse, underscoring the persistence of the defense and the cost to the adversary in terms of time and momentum, as reported by TASS.
