It tries to create double trap: Zgurets on Russian army's offensive in Kharkiv region

He spoke about this on Espreso TV.

“When it comes to the situation north of Kharkiv, we have gone through different stages of perception. Now we see that the Russian army is carrying out such raids and offensive actions in two directions, towards Vovchansk and towards Lyptsi, where the Russian troops have entered Ukrainian territory within 3-4 km. We understand that the enemy is trying to pursue a number of goals. This includes an attempt to stretch Ukrainian reserve forces, which are already being redeployed to these areas. It is also creating the preconditions for shelling Kharkiv if the invaders manage to secure the buffer zone they talked about. It also creates conditions for offensive actions that primarily threaten the Kupyansk area. These three components are now theoretically present in Russian actions,” noted Zgurets.

According to him, we also have to take into account the Ukrainian Armed Forces' actions. At least three Ukrainian brigades have been relocated to the above-mentioned areas and are holding the front line along the border.

“We can see that the enemy is hoping to intensify the actions of its units by identifying more or less weak areas in Ukrainian defense. This is superimposed on significant information support for this operation. Now we seem to be falling into the trap of perceiving this as a significant threat, even though the Russians do not have enough forces and means to take an offensive on Kharkiv. And this story with the Russians' actions is working to stretch the front line and pull our reserves, especially from Donbas.

In any case, we cannot ignore these aggressors' actions and are forced to redeploy certain brigades. And now the Ukraine's General Staff needs to clearly define the delicate balance between redeploying forces to this area and maintaining forces in Donbas. Because, relatively speaking, this is a double trap created by Russia. If we deploy enough forces, they begin to intensify their actions in the Donbas sector, and if we hold the old frontline without strengthening the Kharkiv sector, we create a threat of Russian forces advancing in the Vovchansk- Kupyansk area,” the military analyst explained.

In his opinion, this section of the front is important for the Russians because it is possible to advance along the Siverskyi Donets River, which is evident from the geography of the enemy's approaches, and then try to push through the area between the reservoirs, the Siverskyi Donets and Oskil rivers, where Kupyansk is located, by moving closer to Russia and deploying additional forces there.

“The situation, as the General Staff usually says, is complicated but under control. I repeat that now the information component prevails over the real military threat that exists in this area,” summarized the director of Defense Express information and consulting company.

• On May 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained why Russians broke through the border in the north of Kharkiv region and spoke about other hotspots in the country where fierce fighting is taking place.
• On May 13, the Ukraine's General Staff reported that the operational situation in the Kharkiv direction remains complicated and is changing dynamically. The Russian forces have achieved tactical success.