Offensive in Kharkiv region: Russian Armed Forces set up two bridgeheads along the border

Offensive in Kharkiv region: Russian Armed Forces set up two bridgeheads along the border

The situation regarding the offensive in the Kharkiv region at 1:00 on May 12.

Russian troops have established two bridgeheads in Kharkiv region along the border. The depth of the enemy’s advance is small, up to 5-6 km, but the Russians have expanded their offensive front. In total, the enemy captured about 100 square kilometres of the border strip along the border in two days.

The first direction of the enemy’s advance near Kharkiv is a ridge of heights near the villages of Liptsy, Ternove, and Starytsia.

The second direction of the enemy’s advance is the town of Vovchansk. The enemy has come directly to the outskirts of Vovchansk, which is about 5 km from the state border.

The plan of the Russian command is obvious:

1. To constrain our troops and pull back reserves to localise the offensive.

2. To reach the ridge of dominant heights along the border to create a buffer zone to create a foothold for further offensive actions in the Kharkiv area.

3. In case of successful advance and consolidation, create bridgeheads for an attack in depth, primarily in the direction of Vovchansk, to cover our Kupyansk group.

The enemy is deploying reserves and using significant infantry and armoured vehicles, as well as a large number of drones.

Nevertheless, Russian troops are advancing slowly, and are not trying to break through with large forces in any narrow area. They are creating pressure on a broad front and concentrating forces in a pointwise manner to attack individual defence nodes where they are organised.

Ukrainian troops also operate dispersed on a wide front. The situation is difficult, the enemy has the tactical initiative.

But our front is getting stronger. There are problems in management and organisation at the top command level, because not everything has been properly prepared and tested to repel the expected enemy offensive. They are trying to fix everything now.

At the moment, there is no threat of an offensive on Kharkiv, the enemy is far enough away, its forces are limited, and it is not advancing quickly. The enemy’s further advance depends on how heavy the Russians suffer in this border battle.

But the enemy is testing the sincerity of our defence, and has the ability to manoeuvre reserves, and the threat should never be underestimated.