Russian military amassing around Ukraine's robust urban center, Kharkiv, under scrutiny.
Russian troops are amassing along the border from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, raising concerns about a potential major Russian attack in the near future.
Remnants of a 50,000-strong force from Russell's operation in Kursk Oblast, which Ukraine had been occupying for several months, are now stationed just across the border from Kharkiv. Drone operators from the Russian 72nd Motorized Rifle Division, part of the 44th Army Corps from the Leningrad Military District, have been deployed in the region, suggesting the presence of specialized units.
Russian troops have been gathering near Kharkiv, according to a senior Ukrainian military figure. They are reportedly trying to move closer to the line of combat contact and conduct assault actions. Although the assaults have been largely unsuccessful, there are clear signs that Russia is preparing for active offensive actions against Kharkiv.
The scale of the forces amassed, and the location, just 20 miles from the Russian border, suggest that Russia might use the favorable months left (a "four-month window") to attempt a breakthrough before weather conditions deteriorate. Video and battlefield activity reports show increased Russian attempts to push towards settlements near Kharkiv, involving tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored forces.
Russia is expected to "soft launch" its offensive rather than going for a rapid maneuver by large mechanized units, according to Dr Jack Watling from the RUSI thinktank. Instead, the summer offensive will likely see a steady increase in the number and scale of assaults across a broadening area.
As the end of this "four-month window" approaches, experts warn that Russia will likely exhaust its existing stocks of Soviet-era equipment if it continues its attacks on the frontline. This could make the prospect of fresh sanctions from Europe and America particularly timely.
- The build-up of artillery along the Kharkiv border indicates that war preparations between Russia and Ukraine could intensify, becoming a significant topic in general news and politics.
- In light of the war-and-conflicts situation, the sanctions previously imposed on Russia might be reconsidered, as an escalation in the conflict could deplete Russia's aging stocks of Soviet-era equipment.
- As the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region seems to be shifting from large-scale maneuvers to smaller, scattered assaults, the emphasis on infantry and armored forces points towards a prolonged conflict in the realm of war-and-conflicts news.
