As Russians target Kharkiv, 'next few days are critical'

Colonel tells Askold Krushelnycky how the situation could develop ‘dangerously’ for Kyiv’s troops as Moscow seeks to press on from the border towards Ukraine’s second city

- ASKOLD KRUSHELNYCKY

Russia is intensifying its attacks around the Kharkiv region – with Kyiv admitting Vladimir Putin’s forces are achieving some “tactical success” as soldiers warn that the next few days will be “critical” to stop Russian troops advancing.

Moscow’s forces have captured a number of villages and sent thousands of people fleeing from their homes. Russia is trying to broaden the area of its most recent attack, which seemed to take Ukrainian forces by surprise and caused some to retreat from their lightly fortified positions.

The Independent spoke to a colonel from the Ukrainian general staff, who did not want to be named. He said: “The situation is serious and dynamic. It has the potential to develop dangerously very swiftly and the next few days will be critical.” He said Ukraine “is sending one of our most experienced brigades to reinforce our troops. The Russians are taking very big casualties and I think this brigade, which I know well, will be able to stop the Russian attack from spreading and then push them back or destroy them.”

Although Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and both the army’s top commander and military intelligence chief had for weeks warned that Russia was preparing to launch an offensive this month or in June, the attack in the northern Kharkiv region still caught the Ukrainians off balance.