Russian troops will face more intense resistance if they attempt to advance south of the border in the Kharkov region, particularly towards populated areas such as Liptsy and Volchansk.
This was reported by analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in their new report.
Possible advance of the Russian Federation to Liptsy and Volchansk: what they say in ISW
Currently, ISW notes, the Russian Army is resorting to relatively limited offensive operations along the Russian-Ukrainian border in the north of the Kharkov region and continues to achieve significant tactical successes in probably less protected areas.
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At the same time, analysts believe that when attempting to advance to large border settlements, such as Liptsy and Volchansk, the Russians will face more intense resistance.
– Kharkov’s proximity to the border increases the significance of Russia’s limited tactical achievements, but to continue regular shelling of Kharkov, Russian troops do not need to advance further inland, the Institute for the Study of War notes.
Experts note that the number of units involved in limited operations in the north of the Kharkov region, and groups deployed along the border in northeastern Ukraine, indicate that the Russian army is not yet conducting a large-scale outreach operation, encirclement or capture of Kharkov.
In particular, Russian troops began offensive operations along the Russian-Ukrainian border in the north of the Kharkov region before they completed bringing the Northern Group of Forces to the stated planned final strength.
At the same time, ISW does not rule out that the Russian Army may introduce reserves in the coming days to intensify current offensive operations in the area.
At the moment, American analysts continue to assess that Russian offensive operations in the north of the Kharkov region are likely aimed at drawing Ukrainian forces away from other sectors of the front.
Russian troops are currently maintaining the pace of their offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatovo-Kremennaya line, near Chasovoy Yar and west of Avdeevka.
– The Russian military command probably hopes that operations in the north of the Kharkov region will force the Ukrainian military command to transfer military and equipment for defense north of Kharkov that could act on others sections of the front, – they say in ISW.
The capture of Kharkov, add analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, is certainly a desirable operational goal for Russian forces, but not one that the Russian military appears to be pursuing anytime soon.
Recall that a new wave of attack on Kharkov began on May 10.
That day, the invaders intensified shelling in the north of the region and began attempting to break through the defense line.
The full-scale war in Ukraine has been going on for the 809th day.
The situation in cities can be monitored on the interactive map of military operations in Ukraine and on the map of air raids in Ukraine.
