Russia’s next destination is the city of Vovchansk with 18,000 inhabitants.
Russia’s attack on the city of Kharkov, which began on Friday, continues with force. The closest target of the Russian forces is the town of Vovchansk, which is located about five kilometers from the border.
The Russians have already reached the suburbs of Vovchanski. According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army, Russia will attack with strong forces, up to five battalions, says Kyiv Post magazine.
It is more than 40 kilometers from Vovchansk to Kharkiv, but Ukraine has blown up the bridge crossing the large Severnyi Donets river along the road leading to Kharkiv.
The second Russian attack will proceed further west than Vovchansk, from where it is a shorter distance to Kharkiv. In this direction, Russia has conquered several villages.
The local governor Oleh Syniehubov according to the Russians are expanding their intrusion by attacking in small detachments in different directions and thus dispersing the Ukrainian forces.
ISW: Western policies benefited Russia
The Ukrainian troops have been frustrated, because according to them, the Russians could just “walk across the border” in peace, says British Broadcasting Corporation BBC. There were hardly any defensive fortifications or minefields on the border.
Head of the Vovchansk Military Administration Tamaz Gambarashvili tells in Ukrainska Pravda, that the construction of defense structures has been difficult because the city is located very close to the border. Russia has constantly fired at the builders.
This has been the central problem of Ukraine, says the research institute The Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Ukraine has used the powerful missiles it received from Western countries in areas that Russia has seized from it. However, the conditions of the arms aid have included that the weapons will not be used on Russian soil.
Russia has been able to gather its forces for the attack behind the border almost unhindered. Ukraine has only had its own artillery, suffering from a shortage of grenades, and its helicopters. These have not been enough to prevent Russia’s concentration of power.
– Russia’s attack to capture Vovchansk is largely the result of the West’s silent demand that Ukraine not use the weapons it receives from the West to attack legitimate military targets inside Russia, ISW states.
On other fronts, Ukraine has used, for example, HIMARS rockets very effectively to destroy Russian groups deep behind the front.
– Ukraine would benefit greatly if it could use advanced long-range weapon systems on Russian logistics hubs and transport routes, which now support the Kharkiv offensive, ISW writes in its daily report.