The Russian army is taking troops out of the Kharkiv region, along with Donbass, which are moving to the border through the north and east of the city of the same name. The Ukrainians call the "counter-offensive bite" because of this delay by Russian troops, but Kremlina says they have been withdrawn to focus on Donbass.

Thus, the Russian army is gaining territory in the regions of Lugansk and Donetsk. According to the Institute for War Research, the Russian army has almost completely invaded the city of Rubizhne, in the Lugansk region, and Severodonets, very close to it, says the attack on city control will begin shortly.