Russia launches ground offensive in Kharkiv. Zelensky talks about “fierce battle”

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has since said that a “fierce battle” has begun in the Kharkiv region.

“Russia has launched a new wave of counteroffensive actions in this direction,” Zelensky said at a press conference, assuring that his people “knew this” and had prepared for it.

“A fierce battle is taking place” in the area, he added.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry had stated that on Thursday, “the enemy carried out air strikes in the Vovchansk sector”, which borders the Russian region of Belgorod, using guided aerial bombs.

“Around 5:00 [hora local]the enemy tried to break through our defense lines using armored vehicles”, added the same source, without clarifying the exact location of the attack.

The ministry stated that the attacks had been “repelled”, but that “fighting of varying intensity” continued and that “reserve units” had been deployed to “strengthen the defense” of the area.

A large part of the Kharkiv region was occupied and then liberated in 2022. The border region and its capital of the same name, the country’s second largest city, have been the target of frequent bombings in recent months.

Ukraine has been worried for several weeks about the possibility of a new Russian offensive in the region.

Moscow’s forces “entered one kilometer into Ukrainian territory” and are trying to advance further, a high-ranking member of the Ukrainian military command said at the same time.

The Ukrainian army is struggling on the front line, weakened by the lack of soldiers and delays in the delivery of Western aid, which have had repercussions on the currently scarce ammunition reserves.

On the other hand, Russian forces claimed limited territorial gains, mainly in the east, but were unable to make real inroads.

Ukraine has relied on financial and weapons aid from Western allies since Russia invaded the country on February 24, 2022.

Kiev’s allies have also enacted sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy to try to diminish Moscow’s ability to finance the war effort in Ukraine.

The conflict, which has entered its third year, has caused the destruction of important infrastructure in several areas in Ukraine, as well as an undetermined number of civilian and military casualties.