On Friday, Russia launched a ground offensive in the Kharkiv region in the north-east of the country.
– The Kharkiv operation that our team has predicted began this morning at 05:00, stated George Barros, head of the Russia team at the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on Friday.
The Institute for the Study of War believes the operation in Kharkiv Oblast is only the first phase of something tentatively larger. The think tank says this about what they believe is Russia’s goal with the operation:
- Have Ukrainian forces remain dispersed beyond the theater of war and along the 950-kilometer front line, to create opportunities in Donetsk Oblast, among others.
- Pull Ukrainian forces toward Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast to facilitate Russia’s ongoing efforts to take Kupyansk, where Russian progress has stalled for the past six months.
- Creating a “demilitarized” or “sanitary” buffer zone in Ukraine as the Kremlin has been trying since early 2024.
- Create panic in Ukraine.
- Try to facilitate a larger, future operation against Kharkiv city.
– Around 5 o’clock the enemy made an attempt to break through our defense line under the cover of armored vehicles. These attacks were repulsed for the time being, but the fighting continues with varying intensity, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense states in a statement according to NTB.
Kyiv has sent several reinforcements to the area, the statement added.
Zelenskyj: Be prepared
A high-ranking military source in the Ukrainian defense tells Reuters that the Russian forces advanced one kilometer near the border town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. Russia has so far not commented on the offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says at a press conference in Kyiv that Ukraine has been prepared to meet Russia’s moves, but that Moscow may still send more forces to the area.
Putin said in March that he wanted to create a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory. He then said that there was a need to protect Russia from Ukrainian attacks.
Since then, Kharkiv, which is particularly vulnerable due to its location near the border with Russia, has been hit by a number of Russian attacks.
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Evacuated Vovchansk
According to Governor Oleh Synjehubov of the Kharkiv region, two have been killed and five wounded in Russian grenade attacks on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian authorities initiated the evacuation of civilians in Vovchansk and nearby areas.
– Together with humanitarian organisations, we set up transport for those who do not have cars, says head of Vovchansk’s military administration, Tamaz Gamarashvili.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said earlier that it had captured at least two villages in the region this week.
(©NTB)
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