Rumors have been circulating for several days about a possible advance by Ukrainian forces in the eastern Kharkiv region, at a time when a counteroffensive is already under way to recapture territories in the south. If initially the authorities were relegated to silence, the President of Ukraine went on Wednesday to reveal the progress.
“This week we have good news about Kharkiv”said Volodymyr Zelensky in the daily speech, confirming the advance news announced by presidential adviser Serhiy Leshchenko on Monday. “You have probably heard the reports about the activity of Ukrainian defenders. I think all citizens should be proud of our warriors,” he added, applauding the bravery of various combat units.
Following the same position as in recent weeks, the head of state refrained from giving specific details of the progress in the region. “This is not the time to name this or that locality to which the Ukrainian flag returns.”, he stated. The statements give strength to rumors about the success of the Ukrainian troops.
Each success of our army in one direction or another changes the general picture along the war front in favor of Ukraine.”
Since the beginning of the offensive against Russian forces in the south of the country, including Kherson, one of the largest occupied cities, Ukraine has tightened the security level and limited the disclosure of details of military operations. The same silence also extends to the attacks perpetrated in Kharkiv.
Kherson. What is this counteroffensive and how is it going?
Despite limited information, there are reports of counter-attacks near Kharkiv, towards the Donetsk region, over which Russia has maintained strong control since the start of the war. This Wednesday, it was reported that Ukrainian soldiers managed to recapture two locations in a surprise offensive that broke through the Russian front lines. According to The Telegraph, Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Ukraine reconquered Verbivka and Volokhiv Yar and laid siege to Balakliya.
The advances have not been officially confirmed, but a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the British newspaper that the offensive was in the works for a long time and was designed to take Russia by surprise, while focusing on containing the largest offensive in the Kherson region. “The first goal is to expel the Russians from the Kharkiv region and the second is to create a platform to start approaching Izyum,” he explained. He guarantees that, so far, they have been “very successful”. In fact, according to the BBC, there are reports suggesting that the Ukrainian military is within a few dozen kilometers of the town of Izyum, an important link to the Russian supply line.
In a report published on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War notes that “timely counterattacks” appear to be taking place to retake several sites in Kharkiv. They refer, according to the New York Times, that they were probably “facilitated” by the mobilization of the Russian army in the south of the country.
Source: Observadora
