Russians have expanded the "gray zone" in the Kharkiv region near Hoptevka.

The Russian army continues to exert pressure on the border area in the northern part of the Kharkiv region. The analytical resource DeepState reported on the evening of November 1 that the enemy is expanding what they call the "gray zone" in the border zone of the Derhachi community. Previously, analysts had reported an expansion of the "gray zone" further south, near the village of Graniv.

According to DeepState, the enemy has advanced near the village of Hoptevka. This is a small border village in the Kharkiv region, located approximately 3 kilometers from the border with Russia. Until February 24, 2022, an international border crossing operated here, which the Russians destroyed and seized on the first day of the full-scale war. Subsequently, they were expelled from the area.

On September 10, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced "another success in creating a security zone on Ukrainian territory near the Russian border" and the capture of the village of Hoptevka. This is part of the Russian Federation's plan to expand its so-called "buffer zone" along the entire northern border of Ukraine. The goal of the Russians is to advance as close as possible towards Kharkiv.

The General Staff reported that on November 1, there were 11 attacks in the Kharkiv region, with the majority occurring in the Volchansk direction. Specifically, Ukrainian units repelled eight attacks by the enemy towards the settlements of Ternova, Karaychne, Zakharyivka, Kolyadne, and in the areas of the settlements of Ustynivka and Okhrimovka. On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy conducted three offensive operations, attacking towards Radyvka and Kupiansk. The Ukrainian defense forces are attempting to stabilize the front line in the Kharkiv region.