ISW: The situation in Vovchansk is dynamic, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are making progress

East of Ukraine. Operation No. 1 – Kharkiv region

Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian troops had made minor advances near Lyptsi and towards Zelene, although ISW has not found confirmation of this information.

Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that the Russian military command was withdrawing units of the 7th Motorised Rifle Regiment from the offensive near Liptsi to rest and recover. He noted that Russian troops have increased the size of the Northern Group to approximately 40,000 and that a significant portion of the group remains in reserve in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

Geo-location footage released on 22 May shows that Russian forces have recently made minor advances in Vovchansk. Additional geo-location footage shows that Ukrainian forces have pushed back the occupiers from several buildings and have made minor advances within the north-eastern part of the city. The combat situation in the town is dynamic.

A spokesman for a Ukrainian unit operating in the Kharkiv sector said that Ukrainian forces control most of Vovchansk.

Operation No. 2 – Luhansk region

On 22 May, Russian troops continued their offensive on the Kupyansk - Svatove - Kreminna line, but there were no confirmed changes to the front line in this area.

Russian troops continued their offensive:

• north-east of Kupyansk in the area of Synkivka;
• north-west of Svatove near Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Ivanivka;
• south-west of Svatove near Serhiivka, Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, Makiivka;
• west of Kreminna near Nevske and Torske;
• south of Kreminna near Hryhorivka and Bilohorivka.

On 22 May, the head of the Luhansk regional military administration, Artem Lysohor, said that a Ukrainian strike on 20 May on the Luhansk Academy of Internal Affairs in occupied Katerynivka (formerly Yuvileine) had probably caused "significant" losses among Russian officers.

Operation No. 3 – Donetsk region

On 22 May, Russian troops continued their offensive in the Siversk sector, but no confirmed changes in the front line in this area were recorded.

Russian troops stormed southeast of Siversk in the area of Vyymka and south of Siversk in the area of Rozdolivka.

Ukrainian forces recently retook outlying areas within eastern Chasiv Yar as Russian offensives continued in the area on 22 May.

Geolocation footage released on 21 May showed that Ukrainian forces had recently recaptured several buildings in the eastern part of the Kanal neighbourhood.

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that Russian units had captured Klishchiyivka, although a Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces were still operating in the village.

Other Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces had advanced further in the vicinity of Klishchiyivka and that Ukrainian forces were retreating from positions west of the settlement.

ISW has no confirmation that Russian forces have captured Klishchiyivka or advanced further west of the town.

Russian forces have recently advanced northwest of Avdiivka.

Geo-location footage released on 20 May shows that Russian forces have recently advanced to the eastern outskirts of Novooleksandrivka (northwest of Avdiivka). Russian military bloggers claimed that the occupiers had advanced 400 metres in depth along the railway line towards Sokil (north-west of Avdiivka) and along a 1.23-kilometre-wide, 700-metre-deep front south of Netaylove (west of Avdiivka). Russian milbloggers also claimed that Russian forces were reinforcing their positions west of Netaylove, while Ukrainian forces were withdrawing from positions in the vicinity of Karlivka (west of Avdiivka).

ISW found no evidence to support these Russian claims.

Russian troops have recently made minor gains southwest of Donetsk.

Geo-location footage released on 21 May shows that the invaders have advanced slightly southwest of Novomykhailivka.

On 22 May, a Russian milblogger claimed that Russian troops had advanced further into Paraskoviivka (southwest of Donetsk), although ISW found no evidence to support this claim.

Russian troops have recently advanced in the vicinity of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya regions’ border.

Geo-location footage published on 21 and 22 May indicates that Russian troops have advanced within the area of southern Staromayorske (south of Velyka Novosilka).

On 22 May, Russian troops continued their offensive south of Velyka Novosilka in the area of Urozhayne and Staromayorske.

"Southern Axis"

On 22 May, positional fighting continued in western Zaporizhzhya region, but no confirmed changes in the front line were recorded in this area.

A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian troops had advanced one kilometre towards Mala Tokmachka (northeast of Robotyne), although ISW did not observe any visual evidence of this claim.

On May 22, positional battles continued in the left bank (eastern) Kherson region, including near Krynky.