Zelenskyy: the offensive of the Russian Federation in the Kharkiv Region may be the first wave of attacks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: REUTERS

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, believes that Russia's offensive in the Kharkiv region can only be the «first wave».

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to his interview with AFP.

According to him, Russia's offensive «may consist of several waves», the first of which was in the Kharkiv region.

The president noted that, in general, the situation in the Kharkiv region, where Russia captured several border villages, is «controlled», but «not stabilized».

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In particular, according to his data, Russian troops penetrated 5-10 kilometers along the northeastern border before they were stopped by Ukrainian troops.

«We must be sober and understand that they are going deeper into our territory. And not vice versa. And this is still their advantage,» he said, adding that he still does not consider it a great success for the Russian Federation.

As for Kharkiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Russian forces want to attack the city, although they understand that it will be very difficult. At the same time, according to him, if this continues, Ukraine will be forced to create a security zone.

Russian offensive on Kharkiv Oblast

It will be recalled that Russian troops intensified their shelling in the northern direction of the Kharkiv region. First of all, the enemy attacks the city of Vovchansk.

Reserve units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been sent to strengthen the defense in the Vovchansk direction. The military continues to hold back the enemy's advance.

Subsequently, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed that the Russian army had launched a counteroffensive in the Kharkiv direction. He noted that the military command knew about the enemy's plans for a new offensive and calculated the forces to respond to the attack.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported on the strengthening of positions in the Kharkiv region, where defensive operations continue.

On May 13, the head of the Kharkiv regional state administration, Oleh Syniehubov, noted that the Russian army shelled more than 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region. Seven people were injured.

It was also reported that the pace of Russian offensive operations in the north of the Kharkiv region has slowed down. According to analysts, Russian troops prefer the creation of a «buffer zone» near the border, rather than a deeper advance into the Kharkiv region. Defense forces prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold in Vovchansk.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian troops expanded the zone of active hostilities by almost 70 kilometers and concentrated their main efforts in the direction of Stryleche-Lyptsi and captured Vovchansk and launched an offensive in the rear of Ukrainian troops.

Currently, there are no plans to evacuate the population from Kharkiv. At the same time, people are being brought to the city from the region, from areas where hostilities are ongoing. From the beginning of the Russian offensive in the north of the Kharkiv region to May 16 , 8,779 people were deported from border settlements.

It was also reported that the Russian occupiers in the northern part of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv Region are taking civilians captive, and there have been recorded cases of shootings of the civilian population.

On May 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia has no plans to capture Kharkiv. And he justifies the intensification of the offensive in the Kharkiv direction with shelling of Belgorod from the side of Ukraine.