The war in Ukraine has focused on the southern province of Cherson in recent weeks. But now the Ukrainians strike unexpectedly in the north-east of the country. Russia’s troops seem taken by surprise and are pushed back.
Ukrainian troops are advancing rapidly to the east of Kharkiv (stock image from a previous operation in the Izyum region).
While Russian President Vladimir Putin was attending a somewhat meager military exercise in the Far East and glossing over his failures in Ukraine, Kiev’s troops have unleashed a surprise strike. In an action that had apparently been prepared well in advance, they attacked Russian positions in the Kharkiv province and from Tuesday to Friday made surprisingly rapid gains in territory. According to the Ukrainian General Staff on Thursday, they took control of around 700 square kilometers. But even this statement was outdated before the events: In view of the reports from the combat region, a much larger area must now be assumed.