The armed forces of Ukraine continue to conduct offensive actions in several directions at once. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers managed to gain a foothold in new positions near Bakhmut.
This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The situation in Kharkiv and Luhansk regions
On July 4, the General Staff of Ukraine reported that Russian subversive and reconnaissance groups unsuccessfully tried to cross the northern international border between Ukraine and Russia in unspecified areas in the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions.
Geolocation footage released on July 4 shows that Russian forces have launched limited attacks east of Nevsky. The General Staff of Ukraine reported that the occupiers conducted unsuccessful offensives near Novoselyvskyi, Novovodyanyi, Dibrova, Serebryansky lis district, Vesely.
On June 3, the spokesman of the Eastern Group of Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, reported that the Russian troops in the area of responsibility of the Eastern Group of Forces of Ukraine have about 180,000 people, 120 of whom operate in the Kupyansk-Lyman direction.
Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces carried out limited ground attacks along the Kupyansk-Svatov-Kreminna line on July 4.
Fighting in Donetsk region
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar reported that the situation in Bakhmut has escalated, Russian and Ukrainian forces are fighting for the initiative and control over the area. Malyar added that Ukrainian forces are advancing on the southern flank of Klishchiivka, and fighting continues on the northern flank of the settlement.
The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian forces repelled 9 attacks by Russian troops near Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivskyi, west of Yagidny and southeast of White Mountain. Also, Ukrainian troops conducted offensive operations north and south of Bakhmut, securing new positions.
Russian military personnel claimed that Ukrainian troops had advanced in the Dubovo-Vasylivka area. A Russian military blogger also claimed that the Armed Forces were conducting offensive operations near Klishchiivka, Ozaryanivka, and Kurdyumivka.
Pervasive problems with Russia's combat capabilities are likely to continue to affect the ability of Russian forces to defend against Ukrainian counterattacks in the Bakhmut area. ISW previously assessed that the problems of various Russian factions in the Bakhmut Axis, along with apparent failures in command and control, likely prevented Russian forces in the area from conducting effective defensive operations.
The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops defended against Russian offensives near Avdiivka and repelled 15 Russian ground attacks near Maryinka.
"Southern Axis"
The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Rivnopol, 10 km southwest of Velika Novosilka along the western border of Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhzhуа regions.
A Russian military blogger said that Ukrainian troops reached the borders of Priyutny, which is 15 km southwest of Velika Novosilka in the east of the Zaporizhzhуа region.
Russian sources claim that on July 4, Ukrainian troops continued their counteroffensive in the Orichov region in the west of the Zaporizhzhia region. A marine brigade (Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation) and the 58th Combined Arms Army (Southern Military District of the Russian Federation) fire on Ukrainian positions south of Orikhov, indicating that Ukrainian forces have advanced 2 km north of Robotyny
Ukrainian troops struck the Russian rear in the occupied Zaporizhzhуа region on July 4. Geolocation footage shows the aftermath of a Ukrainian Storm Shadow missile strike on an unspecified Russian storage facility in Yakimivka, about 23 km southwest of Melitopol. Russian sources also claimed that Ukrainian forces struck Vasylivka.
Russian sources continued to claim that Ukrainian forces were operating near the Antonivsky Bridge on the eastern (left) bank of the Kherson region, despite attempts by the Russian Defense Ministry to assure that Russian forces were in full control of the area.
One Russian military blogger claimed that heavy fighting was taking place near the Antonivsky Bridge, while another warned that Ukrainian forces were regrouping and resupplying units to prepare for further attacks across the Dnipro.
Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Saveliev met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 4 to report on the situation at the approach to the Kerch Bridge and to request an increase in ferry crossings to ease congestion. The Russian Ministry of Defense should also provide vehicles to the area.
Traffic at the entrance to the Kerch Bridge in Krasnodar Krai has increased by 40% since July 1 and is expected to increase further in the coming days as the summer tourist season is in full swing, a Russian military blogger said. Russian authorities have seriously underestimated the desire of Russians to continue vacationing in occupied Crimea, despite the ongoing hostilities.
