The Russian Kharkov Oblast Offensive was a total failure on all counts, as one of the reasons were the pure stupidity and excessive self-confidence of the Russian leaders, writes The Telegraph.
When 40,000 Russian troops launched an assault across Ukraine's northern border with Russia on May 9 – On the day of the victory, observers tried to understand the purpose of the Russians. Was the goal to capture Kharkiv itself, push Ukrainian artillery farther from Russia, or simply divert Ukrainian resources from other points on the front? Whatever the purpose, the failure is colossal.
Nearly a month later, it doesn't matter anymore. Ukraine can thank the endurance of its soldiers, the foresight of its leaders, the rapid supply of ammunition from the United States, and, equally, the sheer stupidity and overconfidence of Russian leaders. The same ones who wanted to raise the Russian flag in Kiev for 3 days. The whole Russian war in Ukraine is stupid. The Victory Day offensive makes no difference.
If the Russians' aim was to attack Kharkiv and capture this large Ukrainian city, they failed in the first few days. After defeating some lightly armed Ukrainian territorial troops and capturing several evacuated border villages, the new Russian Northern Group of Forces advanced on Vovchansk. There they encountered Ukrainian reinforcements, including paratroopers from the elite 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade. If the goal was to create a buffer zone, it failed – and what's more, it had the opposite effect.
Fearing an “escalation”, Biden warned the Ukrainians not to use American missiles to strike targets in Russia. Only targets in occupied Ukraine were allowed. But after the offensive near Kharkiv, that changed, and Ukraine is now carrying out crushing blows on Russian territory up to its border.
If Russia's goal was to divert Ukrainian forces from other points on the front, it also failed. The General Staff in Kiev began forming new brigades even before the mobilization law and American aid were approved. The Mobilization Act provided for the recruits. American aid armed them. And the Ukrainian army had enough well-armed troops to hold its positions in the south and east while reinforcing them in the north.
Whatever their objective in the north, the Russians encountered stiffer resistance than they certainly expected. This is how the entire war in Ukraine can be summed up.