https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/26/world/europe/ukraine-russia-offensive-northeast.html

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Along the vast 600-mile front line that cuts a scar across eastern and southern Ukraine, Russian forces are mostly on the defensive

But in northeastern Ukraine, along a roughly 60-mile front that runs around the towns of Kupiansk, Svatove and Kreminna, the Russians are not laying back: With heavy artillery, drones and waves of ground assaults, they are once again mounting sustained offensive operations.

Oleg, a 50-year-old doctor who is working as a frontline medic with the 100th Brigade, said that after weeks of seeing almost no wounded soldiers, he is now racing to Ukrainian positions to tend to wounds every day — a testament to a more aggressive Russian assault.

"It is difficult, very difficult," said a unit commander, Oleksandr, 35. His brigade has been fighting without a break since the full-scale invasion last year.

He said only eight of the 160 soldiers in his company when Russia invaded are still fighting. Some were killed, some were injured and some were simply exhausted.

The Ukrainians would like to stage their own advance. But for now, offensive operations must wait. In this corner of Ukraine, they are once again being forced to defend their land.

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