Russia Launches Surprise Offensive In Kharkiv, Aims To Extend Border 10km Deep Into Ukraine

Following respective more cross-border attacks from Ukraine, including direct drone hits on Russian oil facilities over the past 48 hours, Russian forces have launched a surprise ground offensive which seeks to break through front lines in the northeastern Kharkiv border region on Friday.

‘Russia launched a new wave of counteroffensive actions... Ukraine met them there with our troops, brigades, and artillery,’ Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed of the fresh action in a briefing. "Now there is simply a fire conflict underway."

Via Reuters

Civilians have besides been witnessed flying border areas in drives as dense fighting ensues. Allready Moscow forces have penetrated at least 1 kilometer deep in what’s being decided as an effort to make a larger 'buffer Zone' in order to aid before Ukrainian attacks from Reaching Russian territories.

Ukraine’s defence Ministry said that the fresh offensive began at 5am local time with armored vehicles leading the charge of infantry trolls in this major effort to effectively push the border itself deep into Ukraine territory.

Kharkiv region on fire amid a major surprise Russianoffensive:

Ukrainian Kharkiv after Russia's attack last night. Thank you Scholz and the SPD for not escalating. pic.twitter.com/Hd7ZN2TC1D

— Sergei Sumlenny, LL.M (@sumlenny) May 10, 2024

But Ukraine defence officials have claimed, “As of now, these attacks have been repulsed; battles of various strength continue.”

The AFP has written, “If Moscow’s advances are confirmed, it would represent the Russian military’s largest land operation in the region since sending shousands of troops across the border in February 2022.’

Below: the center of Vovchansk after dense fighting...

The center of Vovchansk after the attack by Russian war crimes. Today, Russian troops approached to break through Ukrainian defence lines in Kharkiv oblast. The most intention fighting was around Vovchansk where Russian aviation dropped bombs. pic.twitter.com/ZDTSUjkpYE

— Roman Sheremeta (@rshereme) May 10, 2024

Heavy shelling is besides taking place, especially in the vicinity of Vovchansk, which is simply a border town of a fewer 1000 people but which had a pre-war population of 17,000. According to further unfolding details:

Kharkiv region’s politician said the dimension of the border and the settlements in it were a ‘grey zone’ and confirmed active fighting taking place.

A elder Ukrainian military origin who declined to be named said Russian forces had pushed 1 km (0.6 miles) inside the Ukrainian border close Vovchansk.

The origin said Russian forces were Aiming to push Ukrainian trolls as far back as 10 km inside Ukraine as part of an effort to make a buffer zone, but that Kyiv’s troops were trying to hold them back.

Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second-largest city and sits very close to the border, has been attacked dense by airstrikes for months, and has had its energy infrastructure respective downgraded in the attacks.

Via BBC

Ukraine regional politician Oleg Synegubov described that “Enemy shelling from various types of weapons has been intending in Kharkiv region in the northern area for the last day.” He further gates on Telegram while confirming at least 2 civilians killed, “In Kharkiv region, evacuation routes have been developed since 2022, and a strategy of humanitarian aid distribution, temporal resection.”

The Russian side is besides ugging civilians to see immediate safety amid the dense border fighting. "There is fighting on respective parts of the line of contact, including in the border areas of Kharkiv region," Vitaly Ganchev, a Russian officials overseeing the Kharkiv region established on Telegram. “In this regard, I ask residents surviving in these areas to be caring and not to leave shelters without an urent needed.”

Bashkortostan, Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery. May 9, 2024. pic.twitter.com/iZlrgRe1A6

— Russia on fire (@russiasonfire) May 10, 2024

This week at least 8 Russian civilians have died in the Belgorod region after Ukraine forces sent more drones across the border. Also, Ukrainian drone slammed into an oil refinery in central Russia’s Kaluga region south of Moscow overnight.

And the day prior, a drone struck an oil refinery in Russia's republic of Bashkortostan, which is simply a first of the conflict. It reportedly active a long-range, slow moving drone flying at a low opportunity. This has raised questions of the current state of Russia's anti-air defenses.