Ukraine continues offensive operations in the north-east of the country while Russian forces have established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove, the UK Ministry of Defence said in its Defence Intelligence update on 17 September.
"Russia likely sees maintaining control of this zone as important because it is transited by one of the few main resupply routes Russia still controls from the Belgorod region of Russia," it said. "In addition, this line sits along the border of Luhansk Oblast, part of the Donbas, which Russia aims to 'liberate' as one of its immediate war aims. Any substantial loss of territory in Luhansk will unambiguously undermine Russia’s strategy."
The Ministry of Defence suggested that Russia would likely attempt to conduct a stubborn defence of this area, but "it is unclear whether Russia’s front line forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted on 16 September that most of Kharkiv Region had been deoccupied.