The next few weeks will be critical for Ukraine, and Ukrainian military commanders are faced with a dilemma about how many troops to transfer to Kharkiv because of the Russian offensive, writes The Times.
Ukrainian commanders are now calculating the motives behind the advance of Russian troops in the Kharkiv region: is it a ruse designed to divert Ukrainian reserves from the battle for Chasov Yar, an important strategic position in the Donbass, or is it a “real attack” against Kharkiv.
It is believed that in this section of the front (the Kharkiv direction) the Russian Federation has gathered about 35,000 military personnel. This is clearly not enough to capture Kharkiv itself, but perhaps that is not the goal. If the Russians can advance just a few kilometers, they will be able to direct their artillery towards the city and begin an aggressive bombardment.
At the moment, the Russian infantry mainly attacks small settlements. The most pressing problem for Ukrainians now is the movement of Russian troops towards Volchansk.
Noting that the next few weeks will be critical, the publication asks questions: will Western artillery munitions arrive in Ukraine in time to change the situation, and will European countries be ready to part with their air defense systems “ The Patriot“ to deter Russian aircraft.
The Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast has opened a new front, diverting Ukrainian forces from the hot Donbass. According to the Associated Press, Russian troops engaged in intense fighting with Ukrainian soldiers around Volchansk on Monday, putting more pressure on Kiev's depleted forces. Moscow's renewed northeast offensive, which began late last week, was the most significant breach on the border since the full-scale invasion began. In just two days, Moscow captured from 100 to 125 square kilometers: at least seven villages.