UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, May 22 —  Russia did not achieve what it had planned in the Kharkiv region during its new ground offensive, Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), said on Ukrainian TV on May 23.

“We are not going to give our full assessment and information on this [Russian offensive] now because this will help the enemy to react and adjust their actions. But we can state that they [Russians] did not even come close to achieving what they had planned. First of all, [because of] the actions of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces,” Yusov said.

On May 10, Russia launched a new ground offensive north and northeast of the Kharkiv region, in Vovchansk and Lyptsi directions. Military analysts and the Ukrainian military said Russia’s main goal in a new offensive would be to stretch Ukrainian troops and resources and force Ukraine to pull forces away from Donetsk Oblast. 

A representative of Ukraine’s intelligence agency said that, in total, for this offensive, Russia deployed more than 50,000 people to the northern border. He added that the Russians have lost a massive number of troops and equipment on the battlefield and in the rear.

As General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports, in the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian troops are repelling a Russian attack in the Murom-Starytsia direction.

In the Kupiansk direction, the Russian troops made four attempts to advance near Stelmakhivka and Hrekivka since the beginning of the day: Ukrainian troops repelled one attack, and three combat engagements are ongoing. The situation is under control. 

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