John Kirby: "The Russian army launched an offensive against Kharkov" (video)

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Council, reported on Russia's offensive in the Kharkov direction:

“We were expecting Russia to launch an attack on Kharkov, which, as it appears, has now started. We have been coordinating closely with Ukraine to help them prepare for this.”

According to him, writes BB.LV, the arrival of military assistance from the United States will help Ukraine resist the offensive of the occupying Russian units.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced the country's decisive response to the intensification of the Russian offensive on the eastern front and called on Western partners to speed up the actual supply of weapons necessary for defense, writes D.W. According to him, Kyiv expected such a development of events and is ready for what will happen. In his evening speech on Friday, May 10, Zelensky announced Ukraine's decisive response to the ongoing Russian offensive:

“The main topic is the Kharkov region. Today, Russian troops tried to expand their operations against Ukraine. The enemy forces are significant, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are successfully delivering retaliatory strikes. We are building up forces in the Kharkov directions. And along our state border, and along the entire front line, we are consistently We will destroy the occupiers in such a way as to thwart any offensive intentions of Russia.”

Russian offensive operations along the border in the Kharkiv region likely have the strategic goal of attracting and consolidating Ukrainian forces along this axis to enable Russian advances into other areas of eastern Ukraine, writes Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

According to military analysts, Russian troops launched an offensive operation along the Russian-Ukrainian border in the north of the Kharkov region on the morning of May 10 and achieved significant tactical successes. Interactive map Here. Russian troops are likely conducting the initial phase of an offensive operation in the north of the Kharkiv region, which has limited operational goals, but is aimed at achieving the strategic effect of diverting troops and equipment from other critical sectors of the front in eastern Ukraine.

Russian troops have now launched two limited operations in the area: one north of Kharkov towards Liptsy, and another northeast of Kharkov near Volchansk. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Russian armored assault groups of unspecified numbers attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses near Volchansk early in the morning, and that fighting in the area continued after Ukrainian forces repulsed Russian attacks.

NASA Fire Information for Resource Management (FIRMS) data from May 10 indicates that there was likely heavy fighting in and near the communities of Strelechya, Krasnoye, Pylnaya and Borisovka.

Reuters reported that a senior Ukrainian military source said Russian troops had advanced at least a kilometer inland near Volchansk. ISW assesses that Russian forces have advanced towards Volchansk, but has not seen sufficient evidence to assess the approximate course of fighting in the immediate vicinity of the area.

Russian forces are likely to use their tactical foothold in the northern Kharkiv region in the coming days to intensify offensive operations and conduct an initial offensive phase that is likely intended to push Ukrainian troops back from the border with the Belgorod region and advance so that their artillery reaches Kharkov.

However, the limited efforts that Russian forces are currently using do not indicate that they are conducting a large-scale offensive operation to encircle and capture the city of Kharkov. ISW estimates that Russian forces would likely attempt to capture Kharkov if they were to do so. Russian forces have likely decided to launch offensive operations along the border to make the most of the relatively short time remaining before Western aid reaches the Ukrainian front line in full.

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