 "What's happening on the Kharkiv front in the Russia-Ukraine war?")
The Kharkiv front remains a critical battleground in the Russia-Ukraine war. Since the renewed offensive on 10 May, both Russian and Ukrainian forces have engaged in intense fighting, with territorial gains and losses on both sides.
A Russian attack that demolished a busy supermarket in Kharkiv on Saturday– leading to several casualties– has been the deadliest offensive on Ukrainian soil in recent times.
We give a detailed account of the recent developments, and explain the areas captured by Russia, the regions reclaimed by Ukraine, and the current hotspots of fighting. We also take an in-depth look at President Zelenskyy’s remarks on Russia’s future plans and NATO’s reactions, both of which provide some hints about the direction the conflict might take.
An overview of the Russian attack on Kharkiv
On 10 May, 2024, Russian forces initiated a concentrated assault on Kharkiv, marking the first significant breach of Ukrainian defence lines in the region since the initial invasion in 2022. This offensive involved heavy fighting and armoured incursions, with Russian troops advancing approximately six kilometres at multiple points within the first five days. The attacks were primarily focused on the northern districts of Vovchansk, a mere five kilometres from the border with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Kharkiv as enduring a “third year of constant terror,” with Russian forces regularly shelling the city using S-300 missiles and guided aerial bombs.
The plight of civilians in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region has grown more desperate since Russian forces launched a new offensive into the region on 10 May. In just two weeks, nearly 135 civilians were killed or injured, including in Kharkiv City, according to United Nations.
The plight of civilians in Ukraine's Kharkiv Region has grown more desperate since Russian forces launched a new offensive into the region on 10 May.
— UN Ukraine (@UN_Ukraine) May 27, 2024
In just two weeks, nearly 135 civilians were killed or injured, including in Kharkiv City, where thousands seek safety & refuge.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsUkrainian authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the region since the start of the offensive on 10 May.
The deadly attack on a supermarket
The intensity of the Russian offensive was tragically highlighted on 25 May, when a missile strike hit the Epicenter hypermarket shopping center in Kharkiv. The building went up in flames.
Nearly 200 people were inside the complex at the time of the attack, which has resulted in at least 18 deaths, including that of a 12-year-old girl. Another 48 people have been injured, according to CNN.
This incident has been the deadliest attack Ukraine has endured in several weeks. The renewed offensive has seen the deployment of S-300 missiles and guided aerial bombs.
Areas captured and reclaimed
In the weeks following the offensive, Russian forces made notable territorial gains. The villages of Ivanivka in the Kharkiv region and Netailove in the Donetsk region were captured by Russian troops.
Russian forces had recorded “partial success” in one of the areas of the Kupiansk sector, a statement from Ukrainian forces said, adding that they were “taking measures to stabilise the situation and prevent the enemy from advancing”.
The Ukrainian military’s General Staff said in a report late on Sunday its forces had repelled an attack near Ivanivka, east of the town of Kupiansk.
Ukrainian forces recently confirmed advances near Lyptsi in northern Kharkiv Oblast.
Ukrainian forces recently made confirmed advances near Lyptsi in northern Kharkiv Oblast.
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) May 28, 2024
Russian forces advanced near Svatove in Luhansk Oblast and northwest of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.
27 MAY Map Updates 🧵(1/7) https://t.co/L6qonZHUcc pic.twitter.com/XA1rWs15tD
Despite these gains, heavy fighting continues in areas like Vovchansk, where Russian forces have made marginal advances, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported ongoing ground assaults southeast of Siversk and offensive operations near Chasiv Yar, although these have not resulted in significant changes to the frontline.
Current hotspots of fighting
Moscow’s troops have, in recent weeks, captured villages in the Kharkiv area as part of a broad push, and analysts say they may be trying to get within artillery range of the city.
Pitched battles continue in the Chasiv Yar direction of the Donetsk region, with intense hostilities reported by Ukraine’s General Staff. On 27 May, Russian forces persisted with offensive operations near Chasiv Yar; however, there were no confirmed changes to the frontline in the area.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces continued ground assaults southeast of Siversk. Russian forces are also actively engaging in offensive operations northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk.
Russia’s future plans
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an address on 26 May, Zelenskyy warned that Russia is preparing to intensify its offensive along Ukraine’s northern border.
Right now, these days, we are defending ourselves 60 kilometers northeast from this place from yet another attempt of the Russian assault. Russia is preparing for offensive actions also 90 kilometers northwest from here – they gather another group of troops near our border… The one who does all this doesn’t want peace," Zelenskyy revealed, speaking from a printing house in Kharkiv that Moscow’s forces last week struck with several missiles, killing seven workers and injuring at least 20.
NATO’s Reaction
If the fighting does intensify further, it is not expected to be just one-sided. NATO has closely monitored the situation, with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg suggesting that the alliance may need to reconsider some of the restrictions imposed on Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. Stoltenberg noted that the front line and the border in the Kharkiv region are nearly the same, complicating Ukraine’s defense efforts.
One of the main reasons for imposing these restrictions was to avoid escalating the conflict even more. If Ukraine were to use Western-supplied weapons to attack targets within Russia, it could be perceived as direct Western involvement in the conflict. This could potentially provoke a more significant military response from Russia, leading to a wider, potentially uncontrollable escalation.
He said, “the time has come to consider whether it will be right to lift some of the restrictions which have been imposed. Because we see now that especially in the Kharkiv region, the front line and the borderline is more or less the same.”
And of course, if they cannot attack military targets on Russian territory, then it ties one hand of the Ukrainians on their back and makes it very hard for them to conduct defence because they are attacked from Russian territory, with missiles, with airstrikes, with artillery and it’s hard for them to respond because there are restrictions on some of the weapons they could use."
Why has Russia set its sights on Kharkiv?
Several factors contribute to Russia’s focus on Kharkiv:
1. Strategic importance: Kharkiv, a traditionally Russian-speaking city close to the border, holds immense economic and strategic significance. It is the capital of Ukraine’s heavy machinery and defense industries, making it a vital economic asset.
2. Symbolic victory: Capturing Kharkiv would represent a significant symbolic victory for Russia. The city’s resilience has made it a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, and its capture would boost Russian morale while weakening Ukraine’s economic capabilities.
3. Creating a buffer zone: Establishing a buffer zone along the border inside Ukraine has been a stated goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin. By controlling territories in and around Kharkiv, Russia could create a strategic buffer, reducing the immediate threat of Ukrainian counter-offensives and providing a protective barrier for its own borders.
4. Diversion tactics: The attack on Kharkiv may also serve as a diversion to thin out Ukrainian defences and draw attention away from the Donbas region. By pressuring Kharkiv, Russia hopes to stretch Ukraine’s military resources, leaving critical areas in Donbas more vulnerable to attack.
With inputs from agencies
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