Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkov region. There are fights

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on Friday, May 10, issued a statement reporting the intensification of actions by the Russian army on the border of the Kharkov region. “During these 24 hours in the Volchansky direction, the enemy carried out airstrikes using guided aerial bombs (KAB). At the beginning of the night, the Russian occupiers increased fire pressure on the front line of our defense with the support of artillery,” the statement says. “At approximately 5 a.m., a breakthrough attempt occurred the enemy of our defense line under the cover of armored vehicles. As of now, these attacks have been repulsed, and battles of varying intensity continue. Reserve units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy’s advance to strengthen the defense on this section of the front.”

Earlier that day, information appeared in Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels about the intensification of hostilities in the Kharkov region on the border with the Russian Federation. Thus, according to Russian military Telegram channels, the Russian army began advancing from the border with Russia towards Ukrainian Kharkov. In particular, massive shelling of the border settlements of Goptovka, Krasnoye, Pylnaya, Strelechya, Volchansk and Borisovka was reported. In addition, as SOTAvision writes, citing a source, temporary accommodation centers for refugees have begun to be set up in Belgorod hostels in connection with a possible attack by the Russian Armed Forces on the Kharkov region.

In turn, the head of the Kharkov region Oleg Sinegubov confirmed in Telegram the increased shelling from the Russian Federation from KABs, MLRS and artillery and the attempts of the DRG to break through the border. According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces “confidently hold their positions” and did not lose “a single meter” during the battles. Sinegubov added that the Russian group of troops “does not pose a threat to Kharkov,” but is intended only “for provocations in the northern direction.”

Russian troops may be preparing an attack on Kharkov

Previously, Russian and Ukrainian media, as well as the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), wrote that Kharkov could become the next major target of the Russian army. In recent days, Russia has stepped up bombing and shelling of the city. ISW writes that with such actions it is trying to force Kharkov residents to flee in anticipation of a possible attack on the city.

Russian forces tried to capture Kharkov in the first months of Russia’s war against Ukraine, but after the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in eastern Ukraine in the fall of 2022, they almost completely abandoned the Kharkov region.