Telegram channels monitoring Ukraine's war say that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have recently gathered a large amount of Western equipment near Kharkov.
According to the leader of the Kharkiv region, Vitaly Ganchev, Russian intelligence is actively monitoring the above movements and organizing many missile attacks to destroy warehouse locations and concentrate forces of the AFU.
“A huge accumulation of equipment, mostly Western-style, and ammunition is being poured into Kharkov,” Mr. Vitaly Ganchev said.
Along with that, AFU is also actively building a fortification system in the Kharkov area. Ukraine's stockpiling of equipment and ammunition is related to Kiev's suspicion that the Russian Army may organize an attack against this area in the context that Moscow has repeatedly announced the establishment of a security buffer zone in the area. Ukrainian land.
"The enemy understands that sooner or later the war will spread to this area and is preparing to respond in every way possible," Mr. Vitaly Ganchev said.
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| Ukraine is focusing weapons and equipment on Kharkov amid information that Russia may establish a security buffer zone here. Image; Getty |
Meanwhile, military leader of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Sinegubov, in an interview with Politico, said the start of construction and deployment of defensive fortifications began on March 1. He did not specify the progress of the work, but confirmed that the defense system is capable of preventing armored vehicles and infantry raids.
Not only in Kharkov, Ukraine began to build a defense line across the entire front
From the end of 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky announced the start of construction of large-scale fortifications along the entire front line, as well as the area on the borders with Belarus and Russia. In March 3, defensive structures and garrisons began to be deployed in Kiev and many other areas. Locals talk about the appearance of new trenches and upgrades to the defense system in Kiev. The Ukrainian army also established outposts in the Vyshgorod area, outside Kiev, with the goal of guarding the border from Belarus.
Britain's Financial Times reported that Ukraine is planning to create a defense line similar to Russia's dragon tooth line or Surovikin, where the AFU counterattack failed in the summer of 2023. Many Ukrainian soldiers admitted that the country's military officials were convinced by the effectiveness of the Russian defense line, so they decided to reapply it.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials doubt whether the construction of the defense line will be timely or not. Verkhovna Rada Vice President Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that the construction of the defense system began too late.
“They finally started building them. But it's too late. The Russian side actually attacked last month,” Ms. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is facing difficulties in lacking resources to build a defense system when it lacks equipment, weapons, as well as necessary human resources.
Kharkov is being "isolated"
Last week, the Russian Army conducted a large-scale missile attack on Ukrainian territory. In Kharkiv alone, 15 explosions were recorded. Head of the Regional Military Administration, Oleg Sinegubov, said that Russia's attacks targeted the region's energy facilities.
The Russian army attacked the Kharkiv Transport Engineering Plant and all transformer stations and thermal power plants were damaged. This means that the power supply to the city and surrounding areas is interrupted.
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| With its overwhelming superiority in force, it is only a matter of time before Russia opens a new front. Photo: Rian |
Ukrainian economist Grigory Bazhenov said that Kharkov, which no longer has energy, is facing a food crisis because many processes, including production, cannot operate.
The situation in Kharkiv also worries the West. Western officials are concerned that during an attack on Kharkov, the Russian military launched 20 missiles at the city's important infrastructure. Therefore, this attack became one of the most destructive attacks since the special military operation began.
