Moscow is reportedly pressuring Kiev to take a significant action.
Russians keep advancing in the border area of Kharkiv, putting a million-inhabitant city at risk of bombing attacks. Ukraine's military leadership is facing a tough decision, unable to protect the front line or crucial cities adequately due to a lack of weapons, ammunition, and soldiers.
Kharkiv, a city with over a million residents, is experiencing Russian bombing raids, while troops have started a ground offensive on the border, capturing some Ukrainian villages. The Rasputitsa, which turns the Ukrainian soil into deep mud, has ended. The warm season is favorable for more Russian ground maneuvers.
The situation is tense and rapidly changing, according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, Kyryllo Budanov, during a daily news show. He believes that Russian troops are being blocked at the border, but warns of a possible advance towards the regional capital of Sumy.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi also mentioned in a video message on Monday that Ukrainian troops were defending the front line and launched a counterattack, although there was no independent confirmation of these claims.
During US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Kiev on Tuesday, Zelenskyi requested Patriot air defense systems for Kharkiv, citing the need to protect the city and surrounding areas from drones and missiles.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov asked Western partners to provide more artillery shells, as Russia is vastly superior in that area. In a speech at the democracy summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, Umerov emphasized the importance of air defense in Ukraine's defense campaign.
"The most difficult times for Ukraine": the ongoing Russian offensive in the Kharkiv area represents a strategic dilemma for Ukraine - defend the front line but also major cities. Political scientist Pierre Razoux remarks that Kiev isn't currently capable of achieving both these goals. He predicts that the coming weeks could be some of the most challenging in the war for Ukraine.
Moscow is unlikely to aim to conquer the industrial metropolis of Kharkiv, according to Western analysts. However, it may increase artillery attacks on the second-biggest city. The Kremlin claims it wants to create a buffer zone in northeastern Ukraine to protect Belgorod from further assaults, explains Razoux.
Russia enjoys superior air support, drones, and artillery as it can launch attacks from its territory, significantly shortening logistics and air superiority. The Kelly Institute analyst, Boris Klyszcz, sees no "fundamental change" in Russian strategy, with the priority being the conquest of the Donbass region.
The Russian advance "shows little resistance,” according to retired French general Olivier Kempf. He suggests Ukrainian forces may prefer to use fewer troops in areas that are difficult to protect rather than risk losing their smaller military presence. Despite the rapid territorial gains, he doesn't consider the three-day conquest to be a major achievement.
Analysis
The situation in the Kharkiv border region of Ukraine is tense and rapidly changing. The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, home to over a million people, is under threat from Russian bombing raids and a potential ground offensive. The Ukrainian military faces a strategic dilemma: defend both the front line and the major cities. However, Ukraine's lack of weapons, ammunition, and soldiers makes this task near impossible.
Russian troops recently took control of several Ukrainian villages in the Kharkiv area and have been engaging in airstrikes on the city. The Rasputitsa, a season during which the Ukrainian soil turns into deep mud, has passed, making the area more favorable for Russian ground operations.
During a news show, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Kyryllo Budanov, stated that while the situation is tense, there’s been a gradual stabilization of the front line since the previous night. He warned that Russian troops could potentially make a more significant advance towards the city of Sumy.
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, during a visit from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asked for Patriot air defense systems to protect Kharkiv from missiles and drones. This request highlights the country's lag in air defense capabilities.
In addition, the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, called for more artillery shells as Russia enjoys superiority in this field. He emphasized the significance of air defense in the country's defense campaign.
French political scientist Pierre Razoux predicts that the next few weeks could be some of the most difficult for Ukraine, given its inability to defend both the front line and larger cities. The Ukrainian military is not only facing a military problem but a political one as well. If they decide to maintain their positions, they risk losing even more troops, but if they pull back, they'll have to give up ground.
Western analysts assert that Moscow isn't seeking to conquer Kharkiv outright, a city significantly larger than Russian forces could manage. Instead, it may increase artillery attacks on Ukraine's second-largest city.
The fact that the Russian advance has met little resistance is a cause for concern. This may indicate that the Ukrainian military is prioritizing the defense of weaker positions at the expense of maintaining a presence in other areas. General Olivier Kempf highlights that the territory conquered in three days might not be very significant.
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- In response to the increasing threat, President Volodymyr Selenskyy requested additional arms delivery from Antony Blinken during his visit to Kiev, highlighting the urgency to protect Kharkiv and its surrounding areas from Russian bombing attacks and missiles.
- Amidst the Russian advances in the Kharkiv area, the Ukrainian military is finding it challenging to adequately defend both the front line and the major cities due to the lack of weapons, ammunition, and soldiers, a concern echoed by political scientist Pierre Razoux.
- Despite Russian claims of creating a buffer zone in northeastern Ukraine, Antony Blinken has been critical of the attacks on Ukraine, emphasizing the United States' strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a stance shared by other Western leaders including Volodymyr Selenskyy.
Source: www.ntv.de
