ISW explains why Russia launched an offensive in Kharkiv region

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The report recalled that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin answered a journalist's question about the tasks of Russian troops in the Kharkiv area. He said that the Russian army was succeeding "according to plan" and that Russian troops had no immediate plans to capture Kharkiv.

According to the dictator, Russian offensive operations on the Kharkiv direction are intended to create a "buffer zone" to protect Russian border areas, including the city of Belgorod, from attacks from Ukraine.

"According to ISW's preliminary assessment, Russian forces appear to be prioritizing the creation of a 'buffer zone' along the international border rather than creating conditions for deeper penetration into the northern parts of Kharkiv region," the report says.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 18/05/2024