Will Russians be able to capture Kharkiv: Expert's opinion

Illustrative photo (Getty Images)

Russian aggressors in the bordering Kursk region have amassed up to 70,000 troops as of today, a development that analysts say makes any attempt to seize Kharkiv utterly unrealistic, according to Major (Ret.) Oleksii Hetman in commentary to RBC-Ukraine.

According to him, approximately 70,000 troops, or slightly fewer, have been deployed by the occupiers near Avdiivka and Bakhmut. However, it’s highly unlikely they’ve gathered there for a casual rendezvous.

According to experts, this force could be shifted either to another front or employed in tactical maneuvers in the northeastern regions of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, or Sumy. The invaders might seek to launch attacks to stretch Ukrainian defenses.

“We can agree that these troops will not attack in such numbers head-on or bypass Kharkiv. But it is also true that they will not sit idle. They can be used in tactical offensives in the northeast or to quickly move somewhere else where an offensive is already planned,” explained Hetman.

Russian advance on Kharkiv

Recent informationcirculating in the media suggest that Russian occupiers are plotting a fresh advance on Kharkiv and Sumy. Ukrainian authorities maintain that even if such plans exist, their execution is highly improbable.

Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, disclosed that Russia may be gearing up for an offensive on the Kharkiv and Sumy regions by late May or early June. However, according to him, the Russian army lacks the necessary strength to capture these two major cities in eastern Ukraine.