Situation on the Russian Front. Report by J.I.C.

air cover. The Soviet Air Forces consequently exploited this weakness by massing aircraft in the Glukhov Konotop Lebedin area to support the advance on Kiev, thus forcing the Germans subsequently to reinforce this area both from the North and from the South. The Russian break through to Pavlograd and the advance along the coast of the Sea of Azov and inland to Melitopol was followed by the evacuation of the G.A.F. from the Kuban bridgehead. 9. It is believed that the G.A.F. are now concentrating strong forces in the Dnieper Bend with the primary object of providing air cover over the Dnieper crossings north and south of Zaporozhe, with a smaller force covering Kiev.