Ukraine announces opposition to Russia's cross-border plan

Ukraine says it has repelled a Russian armored attack in northeast Kharkiv after Moscow's forces launched an incursion across the border and attempted to break through its defense lines.

Kharkiv region chief Oleh Sinievov said Russian reconnaissance troops had attempted to penetrate the border, adding: “Not a meter has been lost.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a news conference that “Ukraine met them with troops, including brigades and artillery.”

Ukrainian commanders had been expecting a summer offensive for some time, perhaps even capturing the regional capital, Kharkov. But officials are adamant that Russia does not have the resources to do so.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Counter-Disinformation, said Russia had the ability to escalate the situation in border areas, but did not have the ability to seize Ukraine's second-largest city.

Two small incursions across Russia's border on Friday formed a familiar but ominous axis for the Ukrainian military.

Kiev's Ministry of Defense said the attack began with heavy bombing of small settlements. Russian airstrikes attacked Vovchansk “using guided air bombs” with artillery support, before a small Russian “reconnaissance group” moved in.

The local head of Bovchansk said the town had been under heavy attack since early Friday morning and civilians were being evacuated. At least one person was killed and five more injured in the barrage, Sinievov said.

“Around 5 a.m., there were attempts by the enemy to break through our defense lines by hiding behind armored vehicles. To date, these attacks have been repulsed and fighting of varying intensity continues.” the Ministry of Defense said.

Heavy fighting continues and civilians are being evacuated from the Bovtyansk area, while reserve forces are moving in, the officials added.

The Russian government is seeking to take advantage of delays in the arrival of American ammunition and weapons by continuing to invade the eastern Donetsk region.

The resurgence of heavy fighting in the northeast is a further sign of Russia's growing confidence and ambition.

The deputy head of Ukraine's Military Intelligence Service, Major General Vadin Skibitsky, told The Economist last week that Russia is preparing for attacks on both Kharkov and the northern region of Sumy. This warning was repeated by the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk.

Tens of thousands of Russian troops are said to have massed on the border.

It may be understandable to see a repeat of 2022, when Russia failed to capture Kharkov and Sumy in the early weeks of a full-scale invasion.

But, at least publicly, officials and generals believe there is no chance of either city falling.

Neither city could be conquered when Russia had a larger and better trained army than it has now. Ukrainian sources estimate that about 90% of the original 150,000 troops are killed or wounded.

Military commentator Oleksandr Kovalenko said Russia needed about 80,000 troops to capture the small eastern city of Avdiivka in February last year after months of shelling. It is said that large cities such as Sumy and Kharkov were on a completely different scale.

Secondly, Russia is talking about creating a buffer zone between the Belgorod region and Ukraine.

Ukraine's military continues to shell Russian territory, worrying some Western allies.