How Russia has advanced in Kharkiv despite warnings attack was coming

was telegraphed by Moscow, predicted by western intelligence and anticipated by Ukraine. The fact that Russian forces have been able to advance about 4 miles at multiple points in five days raises serious questions about Kyiv’s ability to defend itself.was signalled by Vladimir Putin in March.

A warning was also passed, one source added, from UK defence intelligence to Ukraine’s leadership. So when on 5am last Friday, somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 Russian soldiers crossed the border at two key points, it might have been expected that the attack would be swiftly repulsed.Ukrainian servicemen of the 92nd Assault Brigade fire a multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions, in the Kharkiv region, on 15 May.In fact, Ukraine’s defensive lines were thin to absent.

Ukraine’s military difficulties have been caused in part by the four-month pause in weapon supplies from the US – finally resolved last month when a $61bn aid package passed Congress – andbefore late 2024. At the same time, Ukraine, outnumbered on the battlefield, is struggling to conscript men, and has reduced the minimum age from 27 to 25.An elderly woman is evacuated from Vovchansk city on 15 May amid Russian advances.

“It’s suicidal for Ukraine to have its main line of defence on the border, where the Russians can hit you with artillery and glide bombs and the Ukrainians don’t have weapons available like Himars rocket artillery to hit back because of US restrictions,” said George Barros, an analyst with the ISW. As a result, Russian forces can mass across the border in a relatively safe space.

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Ukraine’s defences thin on ground as Russia advances on KharkivDespite warnings, a shortage of munitions, fighters and air defences leaves Ukraine unprepared to repel attack
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Russia pounds 30 towns and villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv regionRussia targets over 30 villages and towns in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region after launching a ground offensive in the border region, forcing almost 6,000 to evacuate.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Fierce fighting rages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region as Russia touts gainsThousands of Ukrainian villagers are evacuated as fierce fighting rages into a second day on the fringes of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Ukraine says Russia is trying to break through its defences in the northeastern Kharkiv regionUkraine rushed reinforcements to its northeastern Kharkiv region to hold off a Russian attempt to breach local defences, signaling a tactical switch in the war by Moscow that Ukrainian officials had been expecting for weeks.
Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »

Ukraine war briefing: Kharkiv residents suffer as Russia intensifies attacksUkraine’s second-largest city has suffered ‘extensive damage’ to civilian infrastructure and a sharp increase in casualties; woman, 98, walks out of besieged city on her own. What we know on day 798
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Russia-Ukraine war live: Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘nuclear blackmail’ after Putin orders nuclear weapons drillsKremlin says tactical drills are a response to statements from the West about possibly sending troops to Ukraine
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »