Zelensky Hails Key Victory as Russian Army Fails in Kharkov
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his evening speech that the Russian army failed to accomplish the Kharkov operation.
He considered this an important result of the actions of the Ukrainian army, reports the BBC.
Zelensky stated that on Saturday he discussed the frontline situation with the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrski.
“A very important result is that the Russian army failed to accomplish its operation in Kharkov,” stated Zelensky.
The leader from Kyiv added that additional units were sent in this direction. And this “will be further strengthened,” he added.
The Russian authorities claimed that the objective of the new incursion in the Kharkov region, which began in mid-May, was to create a so-called “sanitary zone” at the border, intended to protect Belgorod from bombardments.
However, the Russian troops never succeeded in taking control of a long portion of the Russian-Ukrainian border. Additionally, they failed to capture Vovchansk, where fierce fighting is currently taking place. The Ukrainian army claims that it controls most of the city.
According to experts, the Russian army in the Kharkov region could have three main objectives (which are not mutually exclusive): to try to reach behind the Ukrainian group defending Kupiansk, to attract the Ukrainian forces away from the areas where the fiercest fighting is taking place in the Donetsk region, and to pull some Ukrainian troops from the border to reduce the threat of bombardments on Belgorod.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
