Putin’s surprise attack puts Ukraine in an “incredibly difficult” situation

According to the National Police, Russia carried out “constant shelling” against Kharkiv on Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received two briefings from his commander-in-chief Alexander Syrsky on Saturday.

According to an assessment by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia carried out air strikes in Vilcha, Liptsy, Liman, Izbitskoye, Veseloye, Petrovka, Kazakhya Lopan, Sinelnikovo and Volchansk in Kharkiv.

The situation is “incredibly difficult,” said the head of the Vovchansk military administration, Tamaz Hambarashvili, according to the AP.

Russia has focused its war efforts primarily on Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, achieving only marginal success. But in recent weeks, Russia has focused its attacks on energy infrastructure, in what may have been an attempt to prepare for further attacks, the AP reported.

The timing is crucial for Ukraine, which has suffered from dire military and resource shortages in recent months. The focus of the attack was likely aimed at blocking Ukrainian resources in Kharkiv in order to weaken Ukraine’s focus on preventing Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said. So far, the operation has brought Russia “significant tactical advantages,” said the ISW.

Russia claimed it had captured five villages between Kharkiv and Russia.

Russia launched its surprise offensive on Friday in the town of Vovchansk, three miles from the Russian border, killing at least two civilians, Oleg Sinegubov, the head of the regional administration, said in a post on Telegram.

Ukraine recaptured Vovchansk from Russian occupation at the beginning of the war.

According to the National Police, almost 1,000 residents evacuated Kharkiv between Friday and Saturday

Buildings were destroyed and others were ablaze Saturday, according to AP journalists on the scene. Sky News reported smoke rising from buildings.

Ukraine is working to strengthen its positions in Kharkiv, Zelensky said in a speech on Saturday.

“Our defensive operations in the Kharkiv region continue,” Zelensky said. “The number one task now is to thwart the Russian offensive plans. Accomplishing this task depends on every soldier, every sergeant and every officer.”

The attack comes weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested he might try to create a so-called “buffer zone” between Russia and Ukraine – but only on Ukrainian territory. At the time, analysts believed that his comments could lay the foundation for the establishment of a zone on Ukrainian territory that would be portrayed as a peaceful buffer between Ukraine and Russia, although in reality they would be a cover for the forced annexation of Ukrainian territory under another name could.

According to ISW, the operation is also likely aimed at pushing Ukrainian forces back from Belgorod, Russia.

“Russian forces are likely to use their tactical position in northern Kharkiv Oblast in the coming days to intensify offensive operations and continue the initial phase of an offensive likely aimed at pushing Ukrainian forces back from the border with Belgorod Oblast,” ISW said. Analysts.

Ukrainian forces have been carrying out attacks against Belgorod for months, cornering Russia and evacuating residents as Ukraine shifts the fight to Russian soil.