Press
Kiev reports a Russian offensive around the city of Kharkiv. The “fierce fighting” seems to be continuing. There is talk of “massive shelling”.
Kharkiv – There has been speculation for several weeks about a Russian offensive in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv; Kiev has been fearing this for some time. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Kiev has now declared that a “massive ground offensive” has been launched. Accordingly, Russian troops advanced into Ukrainian territory. This is what the news agency reports AFP.
Russia with ground offensive near Kharkiv: Moscow has yet to confirm this
With the help of armored vehicles, the armed forces advanced around a kilometer into Ukrainian territory. According to the report, the ministry said that the fighting would continue. The offensive could be a Change of tactics be.
The Russian Ministry of Defense initially did not comment on this. Russian military bloggers, on the other hand, referred to the fighting that is currently taking place. “If the Russian advance is confirmed, it would be Moscow’s largest offensive in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022,” writes AFP. Ukraine’s second largest city was already under attack in January of this year.
“Fierce battle” in the Kharkiv region: troops, brigades and artillery
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of a “fierce battle” in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. “Russia has launched a new wave of counter-offensive actions,” Zelensky said at a press conference on Friday (May 10). “Ukraine met them there with our troops, brigades and artillery,” he said. “Now there is a fierce battle going on in this direction.”
Since the beginning of its invasion in February 2022, Russia has, according to the AFPmessage tries to To conquer the Kharkiv border region. In the fall of 2022, however, his army had to largely withdraw from there. “But like everywhere on the front, in this region since the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, it is the Russian armed forces that currently have the initiative.”
Threats with nuclear missiles: Putin calls on Russia to be ready to fight
Russia continues to work tirelessly threaten nuclear missiles. Just yesterday, on May 9, which is celebrated in Moscow as “Victory Day,” Vladimir Putin invoked his country’s combat readiness and threatened to use nuclear forces. He often makes such suggestions, especially in connection with the Ukraine war.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said, according to the AFP-It was also reported that Russia had carried out several air strikes with guided bombs near the small town of Vovchansk the day before. It is close to the border with the Russian Belgorod region.
“Massive shelling” near the small town of Vovchansk in Ukraine: At least two people injured
A local official from Vovchansk itself reported “massive shelling” on Friday. The residents have “never experienced such attacks.” According to police reports, at least two people were injured this morning. Regional Governor Oleh Synegubow confirmed increased Russian shelling in the north of the Kharkiv region.
There were evacuations in Vovchansk and several surrounding towns. That reports loudly AFP a regional Ukrainian official.
Fighting on the “line of contact”: a call for caution
Vitaly Ganchev, the Moscow-installed representative responsible for the Russian-occupied parts of the Kharkiv region, said on the Telegram online service that fighting was taking place on “several sections of the contact line,” “including the border areas.” He called on residents of affected areas to be “cautious” and only leave their shelters in urgent cases.
![Ukrainian forces fire a self-propelled howitzer at a Russian position in the Kharkiv region.](https://www.merkur.de/assets/images/34/540/34540961-ukraine-krieg-charkiw-haubitze-OhBG.jpg)
Possible goal: Creating a “buffer zone”
A high-ranking Ukrainian military official assessed the current situation as saying that the Russian army’s goal was to create a “buffer zone” to prevent the Ukrainian military from further shelling the Belgorod region on the Russian side.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had already spoken about such plans in March. In recent months, the Russian region has been frequently attacked by the Ukrainian army. In addition, pro-Ukrainian Russian militias advanced into the Russian border area in March of this year and in August 2023.
#Ukraine #reports #start #Russian #ground #offensive