He said this in an interview with Antin Borkovsky, a host of the Espreso TV channel.
"Obviously, the occupying Russian forces will try to surround Kharkiv, to encircle it. They can try this. Whether they succeed or not, we'll see. But we are also well aware of this, and we are building fortifications in such a way that they cannot do it. We are also preparing," Hetman said.
According to him, the Russian forces will try to capture Kharkiv if they add more resources and all the main forces from the two armies are deployed in this direction.
"But the occupation army will not attack Kharkiv head-on, they are well aware that they will get stuck. They were stuck near Avdiivka for almost six months when they started a large-scale offensive. Kharkiv is an even more fortified city," he added.