The Defense Ministry of Ukraine announced that reserve units were being quickly deployed to the Kharkiv region on Friday following an attempt by Russian troops, supported by armored vehicles and artillery, to breach its defense lines.
Russian forces initiated an armored ground assault in Ukraine's northeast on Friday, which Kyiv described as a significant new offensive that had been anticipated for months.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry has mobilized reserve units to the Kharkiv border region in response to a Russian attempt to breach its defense lines with armored vehicles and artillery. The ministry confirmed that the initial attacks were successfully repelled, but clashes are ongoing. According to a statement, Ukrainian defense forces are holding off the enemy's advances. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned during a press conference in Kyiv that Russia has initiated a new round of counteroffensive actions, to which Ukraine has responded with troops, brigades, and artillery.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has swiftly deployed reserve units to the Kharkiv border region in response to a Russian attempt to breach their defense lines. According to the ministry's statement, the initial attacks were successfully repelled, but battles of varying intensity are still ongoing. The Ukrainian defense forces are determined to hold back the enemy's offensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at a scheduled press conference in Kyiv, confirmed that Russia has initiated a fresh wave of counteroffensive actions. However, Ukraine has responded by deploying troops, brigades, and artillery to confront them.
Ukraine's military was well-prepared for a potential Russian attack in the region, ready to confront the enemy "with fire." The possibility of the Russian army sending additional forces in that direction was acknowledged, with a "fierce battle" currently underway.
Ukrainian authorities have been cautioning about the Kremlin amassing thousands of troops for a significant offensive this summer. Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions to create a buffer zone by pushing Ukrainian forces away from their northern border have been evident. However, the focus of his military's advancement across the front lines had primarily been in the south and the eastern Donbas region.
The motive behind the new Russian assault remains unclear - whether it is an attempt to divert Ukrainian forces, despite being outnumbered and lacking resources despite new Western support pledges, or a substantial effort to capture territory around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.
During discussions on Friday, National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby stated, "I wouldn’t go so far as to say what we’ve seen here in the last 24 hours connotes or indicates a broad large-scale invasion or a major ground operation."
On Friday afternoon, President Joe Biden announced an additional $400 million in assistance to Ukraine through presidential drawdown authority, which utilizes resources from the U.S. stockpile.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the aid on Friday, stating: "This timely and crucial U.S. assistance will help save civilian lives and bolster Ukrainian fighters on the frontlines. It will also enhance our ability to defend our cities and communities from Russia’s ongoing air attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure and energy facilities."
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that Russia conducted strikes using guided aerial bombs before trying to breach defenses towards Vovchansk, a town on the border with Russia just 35 miles northeast of Kharkiv.
A sergeant known as “Marine” stationed near Vovchansk informed NBC News that Russians attempted to approach the town. “They got their a**** kicked!” said the soldier, who preferred not to disclose his name as he was not authorized to speak publicly. He mentioned that this was the most severe attack on the area in recent weeks or months.
Regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov also mentioned on Friday that Russian forces had escalated their shelling in the northern direction, particularly around Vovchansk.
According to Syniehubov, shelling with guided aerial bombs and artillery persisted throughout the night, and there were unsuccessful efforts by Russian reconnaissance groups to breach the border.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine are firmly holding their positions: not a single meter has been lost,” Syniehubov stated in a post on Telegram. “The enemy group does not pose a threat."
Ukraine successfully pushed Russian forces out of significant parts of the Kharkiv region in the autumn of 2022, demonstrating to the West its ability to reclaim territory from a much stronger adversary. However, its recent counteroffensive in the southern and eastern regions did not meet expectations, and delays from its allies have allowed Moscow's military to take the lead on the battlefield.
Military experts had anticipated a new Russian offensive in the area while Kyiv awaited additional U.S. military assistance to address severe ammunition shortages.
Moscow exploited this vulnerability, asserting that it had captured several villages in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. Nevertheless, the increased activity in the Kharkiv region might indicate a shift in focus for Russian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that its troops had seized two settlements southeast of Kharkiv this week. No statements were immediately issued regarding an alleged early morning breakthrough attempt near Vovchansk.
Russian military bloggers and war correspondents were cautious on Friday, suggesting that these reports might signal the start of a challenging and prolonged campaign for Russian forces, rather than quick victories.
Western military analysts echoed this caution.
"We must exercise caution when discussing breakthroughs. At present, these appear to be more like probing attacks than a major offensive. However, it is still early, and the situation could evolve," said Phillips O'Brien, a strategic studies professor at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, in an interview with NBC News.
The regional capital, Kharkiv, has endured heavy shelling for weeks, leading some military observers to speculate that it could be a prelude to a large-scale assault.
Putin has pledged to establish a "sanitary zone" around the broader Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian attacks from reaching Russia's border regions.
Friday's offensive actions may signal an attempt to launch a significant ground offensive or could be a strategy to lure Ukrainian forces.
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