The battle for Kharkov is difficult but under control – Zelenskyy
Fighting around the city of Kharkiv, where Russia has made its biggest territorial gains in Ukraine in 18 months, is “very difficult” but “under control,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.
Ukraine’s president made the comments Thursday while meeting military leaders in a northeastern city just 18 miles (30 kilometers) from the Russian border.
Last week, Moscow launched a major ground offensive across the border into the Kharkov region.
This surprise move left the Ukrainian army even weaker in artillery and manpower.
Zelenskyy told the Telegram that Ukrainian soldiers were “inflicting great damage on the occupiers.”
“However, the situation in this region remains very difficult. We are increasing our forces,” he said.
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleg Sinegubov said Ukraine was working to “stabilize” the regional front and had succeeded in partially halting the Russian advance.
Moscow captured 278 square kilometers (107 square miles) of Ukrainian territory between May 9 and 15, according to an analysis by AFP news agency (a figure based on data from the Institute for the Study of War).
This is the largest territory Russia has gained in a single operation since mid-December 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russian troops were advancing on “all fronts.”
Some military analysts have suggested that the Russian government may be trying to force Ukraine to divert troops from other hotspots.
On Thursday, the top commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said Russia does not have enough troops on the ground to make a major breakthrough in Ukraine.
“I am in very close contact with my Ukrainian colleagues and I am confident that they will hold the line,” US Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli told reporters, according to AFP news agency.
The escalation of Russian attacks on multiple fronts highlights the severe ammunition and manpower shortages affecting the Ukrainian military.
The development comes ahead of Putin’s unusual international trip to China, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
