2024 Kharkiv offensive

Page extended-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2024 Kharkiv offensive
Part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.svg

The frontline on 16 May 2024 (details)
Date10 May 2024 (2024-05-10) – present
(1 week and 3 days)
Location
Status Ongoing
Territorial
changes
Russia reoccupies 13[a] villages and settlements in Kharkiv Oblast
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Units involved
Order of battle Order of battle
Strength
2,000 – 8,000 (per Ukraine)[1] ~30,000 (30 battalions) (per Russia)[better source needed]
Casualties and losses
3 dead and 4 injured by Russian shelling[2]
8,779 displaced

On 10 May 2024, the Russian Armed Forces began an offensive operation in Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast, shelling and attempting to breach the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the direction of Vovchansk and Kharkiv.[3]

Background

In the first months of their invasion, the Russian Armed Forces managed to conquer large parts of northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, including the towns of Kupiansk, Izium, Shevchenkove, and Balakliia. Following a counteroffensive in September 2022, Ukrainian forces were able to recapture these settlements and push Russian forces out of almost the entire oblast.[4]

During the first months of 2024, reports appeared that the Russian army was rebuilding its forces in the north to launch a new offensive in the direction of Kharkiv later that year.[5][6][7] Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also repeatedly threatened to attack Kharkiv Oblast and establish a buffer zone to protect Russia's Belgorod Oblast in response to cross-border attacks by Ukraine.[8][9] On 8 May 2024, the governor of Kharkiv Oblast, Oleh Syniehubov, reported a large gathering of Russian forces north of the region.[10][11] The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, subsequently said that over 50,000 Russian soldiers had been deployed to the border.[12]

Offensive

Timeline

10 May

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian forces shelled positions with guided bombs in the direction of Vovchansk during the day and added artillery fire at night. An attempt to break through the front line was recorded at 5:00 am on 10 May.[13] Up to 4–5 Russian infantry battalions from a newly created force[14] crossed the state border, reportedly capturing the villages of Krasne, Borysivka, Strilecha, and Pylna.[13][15][16] Ukraine's armed forces urged residents of northern Kharkiv Oblast to evacuate.[17][18] The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, subsequently said that over 30,000 Russian soldiers were involved in the offensive.[12]

According to Ukrainian military journalist Yuri Butusov, the captured border area had been a "gray zone" behind the Ukrainian defensive line with no Ukrainian military presence, with the exception of Strilecha.[15][19] Syniehubov also referred to the affected villages as a "gray zone",[20] claiming that "the Ukrainian armed forces have not lost a single meter".[21] According to DeepStateMap.Live analysts, citing confidential sources, Russian forces had occupied the village of Pylna several days before 10 May, but poor communication within the Ukrainian military had prevented any action from being taken.[22]

Later in the afternoon, reserve units were sent to Kharkiv Oblast to hold the front line, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.[23]

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that artillery had thus far been able to repel the Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and that Russia may pull more reserves to support the offensive but that Ukraine's armed forces were ready to resist them.[24]

Later that day a senior Ukrainian commander said that Russian forces had pushed Ukrainian forces back by one kilometer from the Russian-Ukrainian border and were aiming to advance 10 kilometers into Ukraine. The border city of Vovchansk was subjected to "massive shelling" and residents were evacuated.[25]

Fighting was also reported in the villages of Pletenivka [uk], Hatyshche [uk],[26] Hoptivka,[27] Morokhovets,[28] Oliinykove and Ohirtseve [uk].[29] Russian bloggers claimed that Pletenivka, Hatyshche, Ohirtseve and Zelene [uk] had come under Russian control, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which was unable to verify the claims.[30] Ukraine's 42nd Mechanized Brigade published footage of its "Perun" unit destroying four Russian BMP infantry fighting vehicles in the area of Pylna using combat drones, claiming to have inflicted several casualties.[31][32]

A member of the Ukrainian partisan movement Atesh allegedly serving in the Russian military claimed that parts of his unit, a motorised rifle battalion of the 44th Army Corps, refused to participate in the assault on Kharkiv Oblast, owing to the failure of previous sabotage and reconnaissance and the strength of Ukrainian fortifications.[33]

By 10 May, Russian forces, according to the ISW, had seized around "35 square miles of territory", although Ukrainian forces claimed to have pushed Russian forces back.[34]

11 May

The Ukrainians claimed to have destroyed 20 Russian units of armored equipment during the previous day's offensive. Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman of Ukraine's Khortytsia operational-strategic group, claimed that the Russians were contained in the "gray zone" and that the offensive had effectively been repelled.[35]

According to the ISW, geolocated footage published on 11 May indicated that Morokhovets, Oliinykove and Ohirtseve had come under Russian control.[36][37] Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces had also captured the villages of Hoptivka, Kudiivka [uk] and Tykhe [uk], and were trying to advance into Vovchansk, though the think tank said it had not observed evidence to verify these claims.[36] The Russian defence ministry claimed in a briefing that its forces had taken five villages: Strilecha, Pylna, Borysivka, Ohirtseve and Pletenivka.[38]

12 May

The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that its forces had captured the villages of Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets and Oliinykove.[39]

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote on Telegram that the situation in Kharkiv Oblast had "significantly worsened".[40] Amid claims by Russian and Ukrainian sources of combat within Vovchansk, ISW assessed that Hatyshche, Pletenivka and Tykhe had come under Russian control.[37]

13 May

Ukrainian outlets Rubryka and Ukrainska Pravda reported that the DeepState map indicated that Russian forces had taken control over the village of Zelene, while the village of Lukiantsi was almost wholly occupied.[41][42]

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces partially withdrew from the village of Ternova following clashes nearby however the status of the village is currently unknown.[43]

Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed over 100 Russian soldiers in the last 24 hours in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Some five Russian battalions were involved in Vovchansk. Ukrainian officials acknowledged that Russian forces had made "tactical gains" and that Ukrainian forces appeared to be avoiding direct engagements with Russian forces. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Facebook that its forces were "conducting defensive operations, inflicting fire damage on the enemy, widely using unmanned systems for reconnaissance and launching pinpoint strikes to inflict maximum damage" adding that reserves were being deployed to "stabilize the situation."[44]

14 May

The Ukrainian military announced that its forces had "changed positions" in Lukiantsi "to save the lives" of its soldiers due to ongoing Russian attacks.[45]

Russian forces took control of the village of Buhruvatka [uk].[46]

16 May

President Zelenskyy arrived in Kharkiv to meet with the top brass of the Ukrainian military and said that the situation in Kharkiv is "very difficult but under control".[47][48]

Ukrainian soldiers, fighting near Kharkiv, reported that they had "never seen anything close to the number of Lancets (drones) flying" in comparison to earlier battles. However Ukrainian soldiers reported that they did not have to ration shells as in earlier battles. Russian forces reduced the number of armoured vehicles assaults allegedly due to losses, while using smaller groups of infantry, 5-20, in assaults. With the ISW writing: the "tempo of Russian offensive operations in the area continues to decrease".[49][50]

17 May

Russian president Vladimir Putin made for the first time statements regarding to the new offensive claiming Russia's current plan is a creation of a "buffer zone" in order to stop Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod and to protect the border areas. According to him, there are no plans to capture the city of Kharkiv as of now.[51]

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russian forces had advanced by as much as ten kilometers into Kharkiv Oblast, but claimed that they were being held back by primary Ukrainian defensive lines.[52]

Two people were killed and 25 were wounded in a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv.[53]

18 May

Russia claimed to have taken control of the village of Starytsia.[54]

Battle of Vovchansk

Vovchansk began to come under heavy artillery fire on the night of 10 May, which continued the following day.[17] Russian troops advanced towards Vovchansk following the capture of Zelene and Lukiantsi on 12 May,[55] and managed to capture the Vovchansky meat processing plant [uk] located north of the town.[43] The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Instagram that "at the moment, the enemy has tactical success".[56] Forbes reported that Ukrainian forces deployed Swedish CV90s in Vovchansk.[57]

On 13 May, a shoe factory in the north of the town was captured in the morning and Russian troops advanced into the center of Vovchansk up to the northern (right) bank of the river Vovcha by evening, according to Russian milbloggers.[43]

On 20 May, Deputy Governor Roman Semenukha claimed that Ukraine still controls 60% of Vovchansk.[58][59]

Analysis

The offensive comes at a time when the limited Ukrainian troops were already stretched across a 1,000+ km frontline, forcing partial troop pull backs from other areas such as Kupiansk. Noting a small buildup of Russian forces near Sumy Oblast, Kiev warned that the current operation may be a precursor to a larger summer offensive. In a Reuters article, Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Black Bird Group, also assessed that the Kharkiv push aimed to deplete limited Ukrainian reserves before a main offensive. Notably, he said: "If Ukraine overcommits in Kharkiv and Sumy, they may preserve some territory there, perhaps prevent Kharkiv civilians from suffering artillery bombardments, perhaps even push back the enemy back to the border, but it may cost them the war, if the reserves are not available to respond to crises during the Russian summer offensive."[60] In a lighter tone, David Axe, a military correspondent for Forbes, suggested that the offensive might be "an elaborate feint" whose main goal was to pull Ukrainian resources away from Chasiv Yar and the area of Avdiivka.[61]

Impact

As of 16 May 2024, at least 8,779 residents have been evacuated from areas of Kharkiv Oblast affected by the fighting,[62] particularly in Kharkiv, Bohodukhiv and Chuhuiv raions.[63] By 14 May, only about 400 civilians remained in Vovchansk, with "almost none" in the northern part of the city.[64]

Allegations of war crimes

On 16 May, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko claimed that a resident of Vovchansk had been killed by Russian soldiers after he refused to obey their orders and attempted to escape on foot. A criminal case was opened by police investigators in relation to this incident. Klymenko also claimed that other civilians were being taken into captivity and forced into basements.[65] The next day, Ukrainian police claimed that up to 40 civilians, mostly elderly residents, had been reportedly taken captive in Vovchansk while trying to escape Russian shelling and were being taken into basements and interrogated by people who were calling themselves FSB employees.[66]

A video shot by aerial reconnaissance while monitoring the airspace over Vovchansk showed the body of a dead civilian man in a wheelchair near a local hospital that had been occupied by Russian forces. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal investigation into the incident. Law enforcement officials reported they were also considering the version that the man had tried to move away from the hospital but had been shot by Russian forces and left in a wheelchair in the middle of a road.[67]

Casualties

The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff claimed on 15 May that Russia lost 710 soldiers killed and injured, as well as 125 units of military equipment, since 10 May. They also claimed that two combat formations deployed to the Kharkiv sector – the 138th Motor Rifle Brigade and 7th Separate Motor Rifle Regiment, both of 18th Motor Rifle Division – took 70 percent losses in less than two weeks and were rendered "combat ineffective".[68][69]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Psaropoulos, John T (15 May 2024). "Russia escalates the war in Ukraine, aiming to complicate Kyiv's defence". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Civilian casualties reported amid intense Russian attacks in Kharkiv Oblast". The Kyiv Independent. May 10, 2024. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  3. ^ "В СНБО прокомментировали ситуацию на Харьковщине и оценили угрозу для областного центра". Телеграф. May 10, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  4. ^ Kuznetsov, Sergei (9 September 2022). "Liberated Ukrainians embrace troops on lightning advance near Kharkiv". Politico. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  5. ^ Barnes, Joe (4 January 2024). "Ukraine braces for renewed Russia offensive near Kharkiv". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  6. ^ Kullab, Samya (20 April 2024). "As Russia edges toward a possible offensive on Kharkiv, some residents flee. Others refuse to leave". AP News. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Ukraine pulls back from three villages in east". Reuters. 28 April 2024. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Kremlin says the only way to protect Russia is to create a buffer zone with Ukraine". Reuters. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  9. ^ Rennolds, Nathan (20 April 2024). "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signals Putin's plan to seize Kharkiv and create a 'sanitary zone'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  10. ^ Denisova, Kateryna (8 May 2024). "Governor: Russian forces forming grouping north of Kharkiv". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Попытка прорыва границы: в ВСУ призвали жителей севера Харьковщины эвакуироваться (карта)". ФОКУС. May 10, 2024. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Security council secretary: Over 30,000 Russian troops involved in attack on Kharkiv Oblast". Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b Sabbagh, Dan; Roth, Andrew (May 10, 2024). "Russians try to break through Ukrainian defence lines north of Kharkiv". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Lister, Tim (11 May 2024). "With a surprise cross-border attack, Russia ruthlessly exposes Ukraine's weaknesses". CNN News. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b Краснолуцька, Олеся (10 May 2024). "От коридора к панике. Что планирует РФ на Харьковщине". Korrespondent (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Russians capture 4 villages in Kharkiv Oblast, try to advance on Vovchansk". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Попытка прорыва РФ в Харьковщину: что известно". korrespondent.net. Archived from the original on 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  18. ^ "Russia claims capture of villages in northeast Ukraine amid renewed assault". Al Jazeera News. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Russian army captures four border villages in Kharkiv Oblast during offensive, journalist says". The New Voice of Ukraine. 10 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Media claim Russia captures 4 border villages in Kharkiv Oblast, governor says no ground lost". Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  21. ^ "«ВСУ не потеряли ни одного метра». В Харьковской ОВА подтвердили усиление обстрелов на севере и работу российских ДРГ". nv.ua. Archived from the original on 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  22. ^ "DeepState: Россияне заняли приграничное село на Харьковщине несколько дней назад. Командование ситуацию искажало" (in Russian). 10 May 2024. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Минобороны отправило резервы в Харьковскую область – заявление". Archived from the original on 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  24. ^ "Zelenskiy Says Russia Attempts a New Offensive Near Kharkiv". www.bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  25. ^ Balmforth, Tom (10 May 2024). "Russian forces attack Ukraine's Kharkiv region opening new front". Yahoo! News. Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  26. ^ Denisova, Kateryna (10 May 2024). "Media: Fights ongoing near several Kharkiv Oblast villages, Russia storming Pletenivka". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  27. ^ Краснолуцька, Олеся (10 May 2024). "Попытка прорыва РФ в Харьковщину: что известно". Korrespondent (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Головком ЗСУ доповів Президенту щодо посилення позицій на Харківщині" (in Ukrainian). 10 May 2024. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  29. ^ Oliynyk, Tetyana (10 May 2024). "Fighting for grey zone settlements continues in Kharkiv Oblast – Ukrainian General Staff". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  30. ^ Bailey, Riley; Evans, Angelica; Harward, Christina; Mappes, Grace; Kagan, Frederick W. (10 May 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 10 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Колонна наступала в сторону Харькова: подразделение "Перун" показало, как дроны уничтожили БМП РФ (видео)". ФОКУС. May 10, 2024. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  32. ^ "42 ОМБр показала видео уничтожения колонны россиян во время наступления в сторону Харькова". inforesist.org. May 10, 2024. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  33. ^ Ivashkiv, Olena (May 11, 2024). "One unit of Russian 44th Army Corps refuses to storm Kharkiv Oblast – underground resistance". Ukrainian Pravda. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  34. ^ Koshiw, Isobel; Hall, Ben (May 11, 2024). "Russia launches assault on Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  35. ^ Luczkiw, Stash (11 May 2024). "Russians Take Several Border Villages Near Kharkiv: Ukrainians Halt Attack, Inflicting Heavy Losses". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  36. ^ a b Bailey, Riley; Evans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Kagan, Frederick W. (11 May 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 11, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  37. ^ a b Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George (12 May 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 12, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Russian attacks force hundreds to flee border area in Ukraine's Kharkiv region". France 24. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Moscow Claims More Advances in Ukraine's Kharkiv Region". The Moscow Times. 12 May 2024. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  40. ^ Carey, Andrew; Kesaieva, Yulia; Tarasova, Dasha; Pennington, Josh; Gigova, Radina; Stambaugh, Alex (12 May 2024). "Ukraine warns northern front has 'significantly worsened' as Russia claims capture of several villages". CNN. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  41. ^ "Russian troops seize additional villages and approach Vovchansk in Kharkiv region – Deep State". Rubryka. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  42. ^ "Russians occupy 3 more villages in Kharkiv Oblast – DeepState". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  43. ^ a b c "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 13, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  44. ^ "General Staff: More than 100 invaders killed on Vovchansk axis over past day". Ukrinform. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  45. ^ "General Staff: Ukrainian soldiers 'change positions' near Lukiantsi village in Kharkiv Oblast". The Kyiv Independent. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  46. ^ https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-14-2024
  47. ^ "Zelenskyy in Kharkiv as Ukraine claims to partially halt Russia's offensive". Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  48. ^ "Zelenskyy visits Kharkiv amid Russian offensive". 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  49. ^ "Russia ramps up strike drone use on Kharkiv front, Ukrainian artillery crew says". Reuters. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  50. ^ Christina Harward; Angelica Evans; Nicole Wolkov; Riley Bailey; George Barros (17 May 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 16, 2024". ISW. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  51. ^ "Putin says Russia is carving out a buffer zone in Ukraine's Kharkiv region". Reuters. 17 May 2024.
  52. ^ "Zelensky: Russia's Kharkiv Oblast offensive advances as far as 10 km, halted by 1st defense line". The Kyiv Independent. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  53. ^ Kateryna Hodunova; Martin Fornusek (17 May 2024). "Updated: Russian attack on Kharkiv kills 2, injures 25". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  54. ^ "Russia takes control of village in Ukraine's Kharkiv region - Russian defence ministry". RTE. 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  55. ^ Doug Falkner (13 May 2024). "Russia claims troops enter border town near Kharkiv". BBC. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  56. ^ Basmat, Dmytro (13 May 2024). "General Staff: Battle for Vovchansk ongoing, Russia achieving 'tactical success'". Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  57. ^ "Ukraine's CV90 Fighting Vehicles Are Rolling into Vovchansk, Their Crews Expecting a Russian Invasion from the North". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  58. ^ https://kyivindependent.com/kharkiv-oblast-official-ukraine-controls-around-60-of-vovchansk/
  59. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-controls-60-kharkiv-border-town-after-russian-raids-kyiv-says-2024-05-20/
  60. ^ Dysa, Yuliia; Malenko, Anastasiia; Balmforth, Tom (16 May 2024). "Zelenskiy visits Ukraine's embattled Kharkiv as Russian pressure mounts in east". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  61. ^ Axe, David. "Russia's Victory Day Offensive In Northern Ukraine Might Be An Elaborate Feint. Will Ukraine Fall For It?". Forbes. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  62. ^ "General Staff: Ukraine thwarts Russia's attempts to gain foothold in Vovchansk". The Kyiv Independent. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  63. ^ "Over 5,000 civilians evacuated from Kharkiv Oblast over past day". The Kyiv Independent. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  64. ^ Мусафирова, Ольга (2024-05-15). "Кто кричит «Волчанск»". Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  65. ^ "Minister: Russia captures, executes civilians in northern Vovchansk". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  66. ^ "Police: Russia using civilians in Vovchansk as human shields". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  67. ^ "In Vovchansk, Russian troops shot a civilian in a wheelchair: the prosecutor's office opened proceedings". UNN. 17 May 2024.
  68. ^ "Russians lose 710 soldiers in 5 days in Kharkiv Oblast – General Staff". Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  69. ^ Korshak, Stefan (16 May 2024). "Ukraine's Military Claims Crushing Russian Losses in New Kharkiv Offensive". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.