Russia pounds 30 towns and villages in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region after ground offensive | ABC News
the situation is really complex and dynamically changing I think as we speak now many things already have changed you know in the front line and Har region uh the two core things and challenges for Ukraine at the moment is as you mentioned Russian army have advanced and have broken through the first line of defense you know how they have several lines of Defense the first one actually they went through and uh no one knows what the second line of defense is Ukraine side keeps it secret right but uh they should be Russian forces should meet the second line of defense very soon so everyone is watching you know when they will reach there um and another problem as well for Ukraine is you know the lack of Human Resources right so yes Ukraine received one uh six billion package right from us uh it’s in weapons it’s in you know military assistance but you know Human Resources is critical to you know protecting har and susky region and in general to defend Ukraine so that’s two biggest challenges Ukraine is facing at the moment a situation is really Fierce um I have some friends in hak I keep in touch with them the young family you know they chose not to leave Ukraine and even to relocate him into the West so situation is really severe and there is evacuation even happening um in that those regions okay and Russian forces are reportedly surrounding the Bordertown of vens uh what would be the significance of that town being taken yeah so in general um the significance of har and Har region for Russia is very important right um we knew not knew but you know there was some discussions happening in advance that Russia will advance and will start a new offensive in har and to capture har and you know the cities around it as both chunk and so on um it’s critical so expert say it’s critical for Russia because Russia wants to show a big win and Har is that win um that they can uh they would want to you know get and show to the world uh so that’s why you know all the cities are there quite critical and um again as we’re watching Russian army should reach the second defense line and we’re all are watching what will happen you know how well Ukraine has you know set it up to you know to withstand Russian very fast military advancement right and as you mentioned as well it’s the fastest uh actually Russian military U advancement since the start of the war it it’s the greatest but it’s the fastest as well which makes it very you know critical for Ukraine and uh hard to um to to defend and to to break through here is Russia making these advances all go because it has um more artillery more weapons what do you put down what would you put this progress down to yeah yeah so there is a lot of discussions right I follow various chats you know understand what’s happening on the ground right but as I said it’s really hard to understand what actually is happening um one thing that contributed to Russia fast advancement is um the not very strong or not very well established first line of defense in Ukraine so Ukraine has spent like Millions right on this defense line and they’ve spent years you know building it I think they started building you know the whole defense line um around the harff region and like closer to the border of Russia since I think September 2022 so Ukraine has been invested in creating this defense line and feel from what I’m hearing you know again I’m not a military expert right but I’m trying to follow what’s happening um I I can say that you know this like weakness of this defense line it contributes to you know it gives advantage to to Russians to actually Advance very fast unfortunately yeah okay so you’re Ukrainian born Olo you have friends there as you said it’s fair to say that the world’s Focus right now is on another conflict the Israel Gaza War how are you and your friends and family feeling about the situation in Ukraine slipping out of the spotlight uh look Ukraine is not the only one in this situation right um watch World watches you know the whole Dynamics you know military operations globally in the first you know year or so it’s very hard to keep you know the momentum going and um keep you know keep the awareness you know and keep the urgency of the moment but I think Global as well diaspora and like our fantastic ambassadors globally and here vasilenko Ambassador here in Australia they’re doing really well in keeping Ukraine you know in media uh raising money uh keeping the you know the awareness publishing continuing creating urgency uh definitely you know there’s other other crisises and Wars happening globally and um I mean we can’t all be connected to it personally right because I have a personal connection to it because my family is in Ukraine and I have friends like on the front line who are still alive thank goodness and they’re fighting and I’m you know on WhatsApp with them regularly um but it’s it’s it’s really hard and um yeah we do our best you know to keep you know Ukraine going and keeping in the front lines of the medium for
Russia says it’s making progress in its war against Ukraine, claiming that a new front has opened up in the north east of the country near Kharkiv. Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-13/russia-pounds-30-towns-and-villages-in-ukraine-s-kharkiv-region/103842670
It’s thought Russia has captured at least 9 settlements in what would be its most significant ground offensive since the start of the invasion in 2022.
And Ukraine has admitted that Russian forces are starting to surround the border town of Vovchansk with local officials saying the fighting has been heavy.
Dr Olga Oleinikova from the UTS Ukraine Democracy Research Hub says it’s Russia’s fastest advancement since the start of the war.
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