ISW assesses depth of Russian army's advance in Kharkiv region

The Institute for the Study of War reports.

The pace of Russian offensive operations in the northern Kharkiv region continues to decline after the Russians initially seized areas that Ukrainian officials have now confirmed were less protected.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian military say that Ukrainian troops have partially stabilized the situation in the north of Kharkiv region.

As of May 16, ISW estimates that Russian forces have advanced no more than eight kilometers from the international border in northern Kharkiv region. They can easily hit Ukrainian defensive positions near the international border with artillery.

Instead, bans on the use of Western-supplied weapons systems to strike Russian rear areas on the other side of the border leave stationary Ukrainian defensive positions near the border vulnerable and possibly defenseless.

“Russian forces have been able to make tactical advances in northern Kharkiv Oblast since May 10 in areas where Ukrainian forces purposefully did not establish significant defensive lines and currently appear to be prioritizing the creation of a "buffer zone" over a deep penetration into Kharkiv Oblast,” analysts added.

• Russians are attacking along almost the entire frontline. They are focusing their main efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kupyansk directions.