Ukrainian Armed Forces preemptive strike may have stopped Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast - FT

Kharkiv Oblast
Kharkiv Oblast

Russia might not have advanced so quickly in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast if Ukraine had been able to strike in advance, the Financial Times reported on May 21 quoting Ukrainian officials.

Read also: Ukraine has moved troops to the Russian border in Kharkiv Oblast to protect against a potential new advance

Article states that since May 10, Russian troops advanced more than ten kilometers from the border, capturing several villages and destroying Vovchansk.

National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko said that United States should lift the “absolutely unfair” ban on usage of weapons to strike targets in Russia. According to him, this could prevent a new Russian offensive.

Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast

On May 10, Russian forces attempted to breach Ukraine's defenses near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled the attacks.

At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian troops had launched a new counteroffensive in the area.

Read also: Ukrainian forces reclaim territory in Kharkiv Oblast — Yuriy Fedorenko

Monitoring groups noted that several villages in northern Kharkiv had been occupied.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, described the situation in Kharkiv Oblast as "escalating". He stated that Russian troops had extended the active combat zone by 70 km.

Read also: Kharkiv Oblast front quiets down - Half as many clashes on May 20 as day before

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine