Russian forces appear to be initiating a new offensive against the strategically valuable Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, officials have acknowledged.
Ukrainian political and military leadership announced on May 10 that Russian ground forces attempted to break through Ukraine’s defensive lines in the surrounding area early in the morning.
The White House similarly announced that Russia had begun a series of long-range fires against nearby towns in an apparent effort to prepare the field for a major operation.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a press call that the Biden administration had urged Ukraine to prepare for such an eventuality in recent months.
“We have been anticipating that Russia would launch an offensive against Kharkiv, which appears now to have begun, and we’ve been coordinating closely with Ukraine to help them prepare,” Mr. Kirby said.
“We are confident in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and we are working around the clock to get them the equipment, the tools, [and] the weapons that they need to defend against these attacks.”
Ukraine repelled Russian troops from the region surrounding Kharkiv in 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion. Kharkiv was the second-largest city in Ukraine at that time.
Moscow’s forces have been amassing near the border for several weeks, however, after successfully weathering a Ukrainian counteroffensive last autumn. They have also repeatedly targeted the region’s critical infrastructure over the winter, including through missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy supply.
Mr. Kirby said that Russian forces also intensified cross-border artillery and missile fires and launched ground incursions about 30 miles northeast and 15 miles north of Kharkiv.
The action likely marks the beginning of the summer campaign season, in which ground operations for both militaries will become more viable as weather conditions improve.
To that end, Mr. Kirby placed some blame for Ukraine’s weakened position on Republicans in the House of Representatives, who delayed a supplemental security spending bill for several months until finally passing it last month.
“Congress’s months-long delay in passing the supplemental put the Russians at an advantage, and it will take Ukraine time to regain the initiative,” he said.
“In the coming weeks, Russia will likely increase the intensity of fires and commit additional troops in an attempt to establish a shallow buffer zone along the Ukrainian border.”
Likewise, Mr. Kirby acknowledged that Russia has gained “key advantages” for the time being, having secured new “tactical advances” along Ukraine’s eastern flank.
Thus, he said, while it is “certainly possible” that Moscow will launch “larger assaults directly on the city,” the administration does not believe Russia will succeed in making any major breakthroughs.
“It is possible that Russia will make further advances in the coming weeks, but we do not anticipate any major breakthroughs. And over time, the influx of U.S. assistance will enable Ukraine to withstand these attacks over the course of 2024.”
Ukraine has ordered reinforcements from its stretched front lines to help shore up the region surrounding Kharkiv and to prevent a further incursion by Russian forces.
