A new phase in the war between Russia and Ukraine: Russians advance in Kharkiv

Russian troops launched an offensive on the regional border early on May 10, and it was announced shortly thereafter that control had been seized in six areas in Kharkiv.

In the long-running war, Putin had dismissed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov in his place. Shoigu was appointed as the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had taken control of six settlements in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, announced that 1,775 people had been evacuated from Kharkiv, which is under Russian bombardment.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 5 settlements in the Kharkiv region and 1 in the Donetsk region had been captured by the Russian army.

In a statement from the ministry, information was provided regarding the activities of Russian military forces in the Russia-Ukraine War.

The statement, which noted that the Russian army continues to fight in Ukraine, recorded the following:

"As a result of the attacks, units of the 'North' Group of Forces liberated the settlements of Borisovka (Borisivka), Ogurtsovo (Ogirtseve), Pletenevka (Pletenivka), Pylnaya (Pilne), and Strelechya (Strilecha) in the Kharkiv region, while units of the 'Center' Group of Forces, as a result of successful actions, liberated the Keramik settlement of the Donetsk People's Republic and strengthened their positions in the region."

The statement, which reported that 34 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered during the clashes, stated that 46 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) belonging to the Ukrainian army were shot down.

The statement included the following information: "Since the beginning of the military operation, 594 aircraft, 270 helicopters, 23,951 UAVs, 515 air defense missile systems, 15,981 tanks and armored vehicles, 1,286 multiple launch rocket systems, 9,494 howitzers and mortars, and 21,600 special military vehicles belonging to the Ukrainian army have been destroyed."

On the other hand, the US Department of State announced a new $400 million weapons and equipment package for Ukraine.

The statement indicated that the new package includes Patriot air defense systems and surface-to-air missile systems, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, high-mobility artillery rocket systems, armored vehicles, tank and weapon ammunition, and a large amount of military equipment. Regarding the arms aid, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "Today, the United States announced a $400 million weapons and equipment package to support the brave people of Ukraine. The US will continue to stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression."

RUSSIANS ADVANCE IN KHARKIV

Approximately 50,000 soldiers from the newly formed Sever ('North') Group of Forces are involved in the Russian offensive north of Kharkiv.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense's Telegram channel, these units captured nine villages north of Kharkiv, destroyed Ukrainian tanks, artillery, and air defense systems, and killed hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers. On Sunday, the units reached Vovchansk and other towns connected to the Ukrainian defensive line north of Kharkiv.

Regional Governor Oleh Synehubov announced in a post on social media that approximately 6,000 civilians have fled the Kharkiv region since Friday, when Moscow's forces launched the operation.

Important assessment from Russian political scientist Rostislav Ishchenko:

“As of today, Ukraine is using barrel artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, SCALP and StormShadow cruise missiles, and ATACMS ballistic missiles to bomb Russian territory.

Considering that the missiles are mainly used against objects of military importance (oil refineries, airports, logistics centers) and that the Ukrainian side can also use unmanned aerial vehicles with a maximum range of up to 1,500 kilometers, which can theoretically be increased, the minimum depth of a buffer zone to protect the population of border settlements from missile attacks, though not from artillery attacks, from Ukraine should be 100 to 150 kilometers.

To neutralize missile attacks, the depth of the buffer zone should be increased to 300 to 500 kilometers. At the same time, the distance from Kharkiv to Belgorod in a straight line is about 65 kilometers, and even less to the border, 35 to 40 kilometers. In other words, to create the minimum necessary buffer zone, it is necessary to take Kharkiv and thus break through the Ukrainian defense lines located 10 to 15 kilometers from the border. Furthermore, it is necessary to advance sixty kilometers westward beyond Kharkiv.”

News Source: 12punto