Ukrainian troops can de-occupy Kharkiv region, ISW says

Ukrainian troops can de-occupy the territory of the Kharkiv region.

This is stated in the report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) as of May 5.

A Ukrainian counterattack near Kharkiv could undermine russian forces northeast of Kharkiv and force the russian army to decide whether to strengthen its position near Kharkiv or risk losing most or all of its positions within artillery reach.

On May 5, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated that Ukrainian troops were launching counter-offensive operations around Kharkiv and Izium. This "was the first direct statement by the Ukrainian military about the transition to offensive action," analysts said.

"In the last 24 hours, Ukrainian troops have made no confirmed advance, but have repulsed russia's attempts to regain lost ground. russian forces have made little progress in continuing attacks in eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian forces may be able to build ongoing counterattacks and repel russian attacks along the Izium axis in a broader counteroffensive to return the russian-occupied territory in the Kharkiv region," the statement said.

Analysts say that russian troops are continuing fruitless offensive operations in the south of the Kharkiv region, Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but have not made significant gains in recent days.