Ukraine ‘ready for any scenario’ as Russia sets sights on new goal

Ukrainian troops are preparing for ‘any scenario’ in southern Kharkiv region, Kiev’s military insists, after Ukrainian sources warned Russia was preparing to launch a new offensive across the border from the eastern Luhansk region.

kyiv’s fighters are “ready for any scenario and any development,” said Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Ukrainian grouping of Khortytsia forces in the east of the country. News week THURSDAY.

Deep State, a popular Ukrainian war blog, said Tuesday that Russia was accumulating about 10,000 troops and 200 artillery systems near the village of Borova in Kharkiv.

Borova lies west of the Russian-controlled town of Svatove in Luhansk, south of the Kharkiv settlement Kupiansk. It came under Russian control during Moscow’s first invasion in early 2022, but Ukrainian forces retook Borova as part of kyiv’s counter-offensive in October that year.

The Center for Defense Strategies, a Ukrainian think tank, said on Wednesday that the Russian military was supported by special forces and “units of private military companies” that were trying to “capture Borova.” The term “private military company” is generally shorthand for the mercenary forces fighting in the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade said on Tuesday that Russia hoped to capture the village of Cherneshchyna and Pershotravneve in Kharkiv, a settlement north of Cherneshchyna, just on the border of the Luhansk region. Moscow would then advance on Borova, the brigade said.

Russian forces, along with armored vehicles and artillery, used first-person view (FPV) drones, guided aerial bombs and chemical weapons, the brigade added in a post on the app. Telegram messaging. “The enemy is sending entire platoons and companies to storm our positions.”

In early May, Russia launched a new cross-border offensive in the northern Kharkiv region, while Ukraine warned that Moscow hoped to divide and overexploit kyiv’s resources and claim gains in the eastern region of Donetsk.

Russia quickly acquired a few settlements along two portions of the border. Moscow’s efforts have been focused around the village of Lyptsi – about 32 kilometers from the regional capital, the city of Kharkiv – and the border town of Vovchansk.

Ukraine later reported intensifying fighting in Donetsk, with Russia making small but steady gains along that part of the front line’s hundreds of kilometers of territory.

But fighting continues south of Kupiansk, particularly just west of the towns of Kreminna and Lysychansk, in Luhansk.

“Ukrainian defenders are trained and motivated, they know what they are fighting for,” Voloshyn said. Ukraine’s military leadership “knows everything about the enemy in this area” and will plan accordingly, he added.

Ukraine’s General Staff said at 7 p.m. local time on Thursday that Russia had dropped six KAB-guided aerial bombs across the border, in areas including Vovchansk and Lyptsi.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it had “continued to advance” in northern Kharkiv, targeting Ukrainian forces in several settlements, including Vovchansk and Lyptsi. A separate group of Russian forces “occupied more advantageous positions” at several points east of Kupiansk and up to Luhansk’s border with Donetsk, Moscow said, adding that it had “repulsed” two counterattacks by the 3rd Ukrainian separate assault brigade.