KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE, Apr 29—The Russian army is building up troops in the north of the Kharkiv region according to a plan, but the pace of manpower and equipment buildup hasn’t changed for 10 months, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, during a telethon.

“If we are talking about the north of our territory [Kharkiv region], we are not observing anything unusual. Yes, there is a planned build-up of Russian troops in the north of the Kharkiv region, but it is the same as it has been for 10 months. Then they [Russians] either leave the area or move to other locations. We have to be ready, and we are ready for any scenario. However, it is too early to say that the enemy may open a new front, especially in the north of the Kharkiv region,” the official said.

He also noted that the Russian military resumed assault operations at the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, but Ukrainian defenders are holding back their attempts to advance. According to Syniehubov, over the past day, the Russians carried out six attacks in the Kupiansk direction and about 15 assaults in the Lyman direction.

“The Russian army has slightly changed its tactics in the Kupiansk direction, stopping active massive assault operations after suffering serious losses,” noted the governor.

On April 28, the Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, wrote in his Telegram that the main areas of concentration of Russian troops on the Kupiansk axis are the villages of Stelmakhivka and Berestove. According to him, the Russians had partial success there, but Ukrainian troops stopped them. Syrskyi also added that the Ukrainian Defense Forces improved their tactical position in Synkivka in the Kupiansk direction.

According to the Institute for the Study of War report, a Russian ground operation against Kharkiv in the very near future is unlikely, but Russian efforts to create strategic reserves and reposition forces in the theater could allow them to launch an offensive toward the city in the summer.

As Oleh Syniehubov said, the situation on the Kharkiv region’s border with the Russian Federation is currently calm and fully under the control of the Ukrainian forces. Syniehubov also called rumors about a possible Russian offensive on Kharkiv manipulations, saying, “Russia has only one goal, it’s to terrorize civilians, to commit terrorist acts. They have no other goals since 2022.”

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