Shelling around the clock
Russia achieves “tactical successes” near Kharkiv
May 13, 2024, 6:01 a.m
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With a new wave of attacks, Russia is putting pressure on the Kharkiv region – with success. Even the Ukrainian side admits that the enemy has had successes on the border. Ultimately, the Kremlin is targeting the city of millions.
According to the Ukrainian army, Russia has achieved success in its advance in the Kharkiv region. “The enemy is currently recording tactical successes,” the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook. The fighting continued, particularly in the city of Vovchansk, which is located on the Russian border. According to the General Staff, the Russian army has deployed “up to five battalions” to the region.
According to the region’s Ukrainian governor, the border areas are under Russian fire “almost around the clock.” This applies to the entire border area of the Kharkiv region, explained Oleh Synehubow in online media. According to Synegubow, over 4,000 people have been evacuated from areas near the border so far.
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of “bitter fighting” in the Kharkiv region. The goal behind the Russian attacks there is to “disperse our forces and undermine morale.” According to Ukrainian sources, on Friday the Russian army launched a ground offensive in the Kharkiv region using armored vehicles.
Attacks are not yet aimed at the city of Kharkiv
A few days ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared convinced in an interview with CBS that the Ukrainian armed forces would hold their positions near Kharkiv. Ukraine will also successfully counter Russian aggression on other fronts. The USA also remained on Ukraine’s side, as did over 50 other states that supported the country. “It will stay that way, and if (Kremlin leader Vladimir) Putin thinks he will outlast Ukraine and its supporters, then he is wrong.”
However, Ukrainian and Russian military observers as well as foreign experts assumed that the attack was not yet aimed at the city of Kharkiv. The Institute for War Studies ISW in the USA spoke of “limited operational objectives”. The attacks were intended to push Ukrainian forces away from the border; The advance was intended to bring Kharkiv back into range of Russian howitzers and cannons.
The strategic goal is to force the Ukrainians to withdraw soldiers and material from other beleaguered sections of the front in the east. The limited deployment does not suggest “that Russian forces are conducting a large-scale offensive operation to encircle, encircle or capture Kharkiv,” the ISW wrote. Right at the beginning of the war of aggression in spring 2022, Russian troops entered Kharkiv but were repelled.