Russian army may try to stretch Ukrainian forces before offensive by threatening Kharkiv
Illustrative photo (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russian forces may be attempting to use the threat of an advance on Kharkiv to stretch Ukrainian forces along a wider front line in eastern Ukraine before the start of their summer offensive, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced yesterday, April 28, that Russia is accumulating troops in the Kharkiv direction and conducting regrouping. Ukraine, in turn, is strengthening the most dangerous areas in this direction.
The Institute notes that Syrskyi's statement does not indicate the inevitability of a Russian offensive operation against Kharkiv. Syrskyi stated that Ukrainian forces recently improved their positions near Synkivka (northeast of Kupiansk), and a Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces withdrew a short distance from Synkivka due to a lack of manpower in the area.
The inability of Russian brigades to capture Synkivka, despite repeated massive infantry and mechanized attacks during a months-long offensive, raises doubts about their combat readiness, as well as the combat readiness of the northern grouping of forces in general, according to ISW.
"ISW continues to assess that a potential future Russian offensive to seize Kharkiv city would be an extremely ambitious undertaking that would pose significant challenges to Russian forces, particularly since Russian forces will be facing better-equipped Ukrainian forces following the arrival of US military assistance," the report says.
At the same time, the Russian army may use the threat of an advance on Kharkiv to stretch Ukrainian forces along a wider front line in eastern Ukraine before the start of their summer offensive.
Threats to Kharkiv
Syrskyi stated that Russia is accumulating troops in the Kharkiv direction and conducting regrouping. Ukraine, in turn, is strengthening the most dangerous areas in this direction.
Recently, the Russian Federation has intensified shelling of Kharkiv. Additionally, propagandists are disseminating disinformation to the local population about a supposed threat of an offensive. In this way, the Russians aim to provoke residents to leave the city.
The Commander of the National Guard believes that the Russians will not be able to occupy Kharkiv. He emphasized that this would require several years.
