Russian forces continued their advance across northeastern Ukraine on Sunday, seizing small settlements along the border and forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat. Aid workers reported that Russian troops were now threatening towns near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, after pushing hard from the Russia-Ukraine border. Ukrainian military units confirmed that they were forced to withdraw from some positions due to heavy fighting, with Russian forces successfully gaining control of additional settlements. The Russian offensive, launched on Friday, included fighter jets, artillery units, infantry, and armor, resulting in intensified cross-border fire.
Fighting in the area intensified, with accusations from Russia that Ukraine had hit a building in the Russian city of Belgorod, about 45 miles from Kharkiv. At least 17 casualties were reported, with the Russian Defense Ministry attributing the damage to fragments from an intercepted Ukrainian missile. Russian forces quickly seized territory near Kharkiv, leading to the evacuation of over 4,000 people, including pets and individuals on stretchers. Evacuation efforts using small vans and school buses were hampered by bomb shrapnel and cratered roads, as civilians in border villages sought safety from the intense shelling.
Concerns arose about the Russian offensive near Kharkiv being a strategic distraction to divert Ukrainian forces from eastern Ukraine battlefields. Analysts believed the goal was to create a buffer zone along the border and prevent Ukrainian artillery strikes into Russia. The proximity to Kharkiv raised fears of potential shelling to sow panic, similar to tactics used in the early days of the war in 2022. While the seizure of Kharkiv City was a desired objective for Russian forces, analysts noted that the immediate focus was likely drawing Ukrainian forces away from other sectors to advance within artillery range of Kharkiv.
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed increasing concern about the situation, emphasizing the difficulty of combat engagements in eastern Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War highlighted the Russian military’s strategy of advancing towards Kharkiv while diverting Ukrainian forces from other fronts. The ongoing conflict has put civilians in border towns at risk, forcing many to evacuate and seek shelter from the fighting. The situation remains volatile as Russian forces continue their push across northeastern Ukraine, with Kharkiv emerging as a key target in the conflict.
