On 29 August, Ukraine announced an imminent counteroffensive in southern Ukraine, part of the largest disinformation campaign yet in the war, designed to divert Russia's forces away from Kharkiv.[33][34] Russia redeployed thousands of its troops, including elite units such as the 1st Guards Tank Army, to Kherson Oblast, leaving its Kharkiv forces significantly weakened and vulnerable to attack.[19][4][36]