Kharkhiv pummelled by Russian onslaught
Invaders strike city and surrounding settlements as Ukraine braces itself for renewed offensive
‘In the Lyman direction, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions’
‘Ukrainians deserve to know that the American people will continue to stand with them’
UKRAINE is bracing for a renewed Russian offensive near Kharkiv as Moscow ramps up its bombardment of the north-eastern city and the surrounding region.
Moscow’s forces struck the city and 15 surrounding settlements with missiles, artillery and mortars yesterday, according to local officials.
Targets included both civilian buildings and military positions, in what is seen as preparation for a large-scale offensive in the coming weeks, a source close to Ukraine’s armed forces said.
Kyiv has not released details of the attacks, but late on Wednesday the source said: “Pre-attack bombardments have been carried out all day at military sites around the region.”
Local military intelligence units believe Russian forces could be plotting to further ramp up aerial attacks this weekend to coincide with Christmas in Russia, which is celebrated on Jan 7.
The ground offensive could follow shortly after, with Jan 15 mooted as its possible start date, a source added.
Both sides have been jostling for better positions along the frontline that straddles the villages of Kupiansk, Svatove and Kreminna, close to the border of Kharkiv region.
Moscow has concentrated its resources in the area in a bid to push towards the Ukrainian-held towns of Kreminna and Lyman, which were both occupied by Russian forces until Kyiv launched a lightning counter-offensive in September 2022.
Ukraine’s general staff said that its forces had repelled three Russian attacks in the direction of Kupiansk.
“In the Lyman direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive actions,” the statement added.
But Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, the head of Ukraine’s ground forces, has warned Russian forces are conducting glide bomb strikes while regrouping for another assault on Lyman. He added: “Daily assaults by Russian troops continue near the settlement of Synkivka to create a bridgehead and further advance on the city of Kupiansk.”
Moscow has transported more armoured vehicles and artillery pieces to support the attempted advances of infantry groups, mainly made up of so-called “Storm Z” penal military units, Col Gen Syrskyi said.
Russian forces in the area have also been bolstered by better-trained reserves brought in from elsewhere on the battlefield.
Ukrainian officials have spent months preparing for an anticipated offensive in the direction of Kupiansk, where only a fraction of its original 26,000 population remains.
Military commanders in the northeast of Ukraine have described the area as one of the “hottest”, even when Kyiv’s forces were attempting a summer counter-offensive in the south.
The town, if captured by Russian forces, could serve as an important logistical springboard for offensive pushes farther south or west.
Meanwhile, Moscow has increasingly targeted central Kharkiv, a city that it failed to occupy at the start of its invasion in February 2022. Ukraine’s second largest city has been subjected to almost daily ballistic missile attacks, with residential buildings and a five-star hotel frequented by journalists and aid workers among the targets. One resident described the shelling as having “got a lot worse” since the start of the year.
Last night the White House warned that Russian talks to buy long-range missiles from Iran were “actively advancing” and new munitions could soon be seen on the battlefield.
White House national security co-ordinator John Kirby said Russia “intends to purchase missile systems from Iran,” adding it had already deployed North Korean missiles against Ukraine.
He renewed calls for Congress to pass a $61billion aid package for Ukraine: “Ukrainians deserve to know the American people in this government will continue to stand with them, so it’s critical that Congress responds by providing what they need to defend themselves.”