UKRAINE, May 10 — Russia started a new offensive in the Kharkiv direction, says President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the joint press conference with Zuzana Čaputová, President of Slovakia, in Kyiv. 

Earlier, the Ukrainian military and Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an American think tank that studies the Russian-Ukrainian war, reported that Russia is gathering troops north of the Kharkiv region to initiate a new offensive. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia tried to break through Ukrainian defenses, but “Ukraine has met them with our military, brigades, and artillery.” He said that Russia might gather more troops in this direction, but “our military, our command knew about [the offensive] and were prepared to meet the enemy with fire.” 

“Currently, intense combat is happening in this direction, and we have met them with fire,” Zelenskyy added. 

In the morning, Serhii Melnik, the commander of the Kharkiv garrison, commented on the situation in the Slobozhanskyi direction, “Ukrainian military and political command see everything very well and, along with the Defence Forces, are prepared for any intentions of the enemy.” 

Melnik said that Russians are trying to advance in the Slobozhanskyy direction using sabotage-reconnaissance groups and various weapons but do not succeed “thanks to the professional work” of the Ukrainian army. He also cautioned Kharkiv residents to beware of disinformation. 

DeepStateMap has already assigned Strilecha, Pylna, and Borysivka in the Kharkiv Oblast an “unknown” status (in terms of whether it’s occupied or not), noting that the Russian offensive started with the breakthrough in Pylna. 

Map of the Kharkiv region updated 10.05 at 12:52 p.m. / Source: DeepStateMap
Map of the Kharkiv region updated 10.05 at 12:52 p.m. / Source: DeepStateMap

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  • Deputy chief of Ukrainian military intelligence agency Vadym Skibitskyi said in an interview with Economist, published on May 2, that Russian troops are preparing for an assault on the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, presumably at the end of May or in June 2024.