By KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces claim to have recaptured territory in the eastern Kharkiv region, an area where Russia launched a significant offensive in the spring that initially gained ground but later stalled.
Ukraine’s Third Separate Assault Brigade stated late Thursday that its forces had advanced nearly two square kilometers in the area. The exact timing, scale, and location of the offensive remain unclear, as does its potential impact on the broader conflict.
This reported counteroffensive in Kharkiv coincides with Ukraine’s recent military initiatives, including a surprise offensive into Russia’s western Kursk region on August sixth and an intensified drone campaign against Russian military and fuel targets.
New details have emerged about the impact of these attacks. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press on Friday showed significant damage to an airfield in Russia’s Volgograd region, reportedly used to house glide bombs, following a Ukrainian drone strike.
In a separate incident, Russian state news agency Tass reported that an attack on a cargo ferry at the port of Kavkaz in Russia’s Krasnodar region on Thursday injured thirteen people, with four hospitalized and one person unaccounted for.
Ukraine’s recent gains have altered the battlefield dynamics and boosted Ukrainian morale ten years after Russia’s initial incursion into the country, and two and a half years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
The conflict has resulted in widespread casualties, destruction, and Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Ukraine and its Western allies hope these recent developments might strengthen Kyiv’s position in potential diplomatic negotiations.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kyiv for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday is being closely observed. Modi, who has maintained cordial ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, could potentially play a role in mediating peace efforts.
However, Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory carries risks. While exposing Russian vulnerabilities, it has further stretched Ukrainian forces already engaged along a lengthy frontline. This diversion of resources could potentially impact Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian advances in the Donetsk region.
Commander Andrii Biletskyi of Ukraine’s Third Separate Assault Brigade claimed that Ukrainian soldiers had taken control of an area previously held by a Russian battalion, despite facing numerical disadvantages.
The Associated Press was unable to independently verify these claims, and there has been no immediate comment from Russian authorities.
Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region, launched in May, made initial gains but subsequently stalled. Fighting in this area has diminished as Russian forces have concentrated their efforts in the Donetsk region, part of the industrial Donbas area that Russia has formally annexed but does not fully control.
