The situation in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine is extremely tense, with a northern front that has recently been stabilized after an offensive launched by Moscow a month ago. Ukrainian forces were able to repel the assaults thanks to increased weapons supplies and permission to use these weapons to target positions in Russia. However, despite these efforts, Ukrainian troops are strained along the 1,000 km front and remain vulnerable to fearsome Russian aerial bombs.
A senior official of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), nicknamed Bankir, currently engaged in the Kharkiv region, told Fatshimetrie that the ability to target Russian targets across the border was already having a positive impact. This new capability makes it possible to envisage local counterattack operations to retake territories recently lost to the enemy.
During much of the conflict, Ukraine was limited in using powerful Western weapons against Russia. However, following the Kharkiv offensive, Kyiv’s allies softened their stance and allowed Ukraine to strike targets in Russia. The United States was particularly significant in giving Ukraine the green light to use its weapons around Kharkiv.
The American HIMARS system has become the weapon of choice for striking Russian positions, according to Yehor Cherniev, deputy chairman of the National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament. Despite the threats posed by HIMARS, the Russians have reduced the use of the S-300 and S-400 missile systems to target the Kharkiv region, while glide bombs remain a constant threat, being dropped at out-of-range altitude Ukrainian defenses.
Nevertheless, challenges persist, as Cherniev points out, who laments the lack of authorization to target Russian aircraft and the inability to use certain missiles on Russian territory. These shortcomings still result in hover bomb attacks on civilian areas, causing tragic loss of life.
Violence remains widespread and the humanitarian situation worrying, with a significant increase in the number of civilians killed in May compared to the previous month. Civilians are paying a heavy price in this conflict, particularly in the north of the country and in Kharkiv, where bombs and missiles have hit populated areas.
To counter the Russian advance in Kharkiv, Ukraine must redeploy its resources and personnel from other parts of the front, particularly in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where Russian pressure remains very strong. Russia’s main goal is to take full control of these eastern regions, which explains the intensification of fighting in this area.
The battle for Kharkiv and surrounding regions continues to rage, with high strategic stakes for both sides. The outcome of this devastating war impacts not only Ukraine and Russia, but also the entire region and the entire world. It is crucial to find diplomatic solutions to end this deadly conflict and restore peace in the region.