Russia Launches Surprise Offensive In Kharkiv, Aims To Extend Border 10km Deep Into Ukraine
Following several more cross-border attacks from Ukraine, including direct drone hits on Russian oil facilities over the past 48 hours, Russian forces have launched a surprise ground offensive which seeks to break through front lines in the northeastern Kharkiv border region on Friday.
“Russia launched a new wave of counteroffensive actions… Ukraine met them there with our troops, brigades, and artillery,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed of the new action in a briefing. “Now there is a fierce battle underway.”
Civilians have also been witnessed fleeing border areas in droves as heavy fighting ensues. Already Moscow forces have penetrated at least 1 kilometer deep in what’s being described as an effort to create a larger ‘buffer zone’ in order to help prevent Ukrainian attacks from reaching Russian territory.
Ukraine’s defense ministry said that the new offensive began at 5am local time with armored vehicles leading the charge of infantry troops in this major effort to effectively push the border itself deeper into Ukraine territory.
Kharkiv region on fire amid a major surprise Russian offensive:
Ukrainian Kharkiv after Russia’s attack last night. Thank you Scholz and the SPD for not escalating. pic.twitter.com/Hd7ZN2TC1D
— Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M (@sumlenny) May 10, 2024
But Ukraine defense officials have claimed, “As of now, these attacks have been repulsed; battles of varying intensity continue.”
The AFP has written, “If Moscow’s advances are confirmed, it would represent the Russian military’s largest land operation in the region since sending thousands of troops across the border in February 2022.”
Below: the center of Vovchansk after heavy fighting..
The center of Vovchansk after the attack by russian war criminals. Today, russian troops attempted to break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkiv oblast. The most intense fighting was around Vovchansk where russian aviation dropped bombs. pic.twitter.com/ZDTSUjkpYE
— Roman Sheremeta 🇺🇦 (@rshereme) May 10, 2024
