Russian forces edge closer in the Kharkiv region amid Ukraine's defense struggle

The advancement pace of Russian offensive operations in the northern part of the Kharkiv region has slowed following Putin's forces' initial occupation of areas. According to analysts from the ISW, Ukrainian officials stated these areas were less defended.

"Russian forces operating in Russia could easily conduct artillery strikes against Ukrainian defensive positions close to the international border, and Western prohibitions on the use of Western-provided weapons systems for strikes against rear Russian areas across the border make potential fixed Ukrainian defensive positions close to the international border vulnerable and possibly indefensible," states the report from the American Institute for the Study of War.

It has been reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian military officials have partially stabilized the situation in the northern Kharkiv region, which borders Russia.

Nearly 8,000 civilians have been evacuated from the areas in the northern Kharkiv region that have been under intense attack by Russia, Oleg Sinehubov, the head of the region's military administration, reported on Wednesday.

He also mentioned that during the last 24 hours, the city of Kharkiv was hit by six rounds of bombing from the Russians, using S-300 missiles, UMBP D-30 shells, and strike drones. These attacks resulted in 22 people getting injured.

Ukrainian and Western sources report that Russian forces aim to establish a 6-mile buffer zone in the Kharkiv region. This would place Kharkiv within the range of Russian gun artillery while keeping Russian logistical centers out of Ukrainian forces' reach.