Russian army is likely to continue its attempts to advance, creating conditions for approaching Kharkiv - Zgurets

Defense Express analyst Serhiy Zgurets said this on Espreso TV.

"Probably, some regrouping is going on there and Russia will continue to try to advance in this direction, creating conditions for approaching Kharkiv. The invaders do not have enough forces to capture the city. But in any case, the Russian army is aiming at approaches related to the diversion of Ukrainian forces and reserves from other areas. Therefore, this direction remains difficult, like all areas of combat operations," he noted.

Fighting is also ongoing in the northern part of Vovchansk, Zgurets said.

"The Russian Federation will continue to act in the direction of Vovchansk and Lyptsi. The enemy's advance has now been stopped there. Additional forces of the Ukrainian side have been deployed there. As for Vovchansk, we thought that the defense line runs along the river, and the enemy is in the northern part. However, there is a video showing that the fighting continues in the northern part of Vovchansk. Russia has brought flamethrower systems there. So Ukrainian units are holding areas on the northern part of the Vovcha River," the analyst said.

The threat to Kharkiv existed even before the Russian Federation launched an offensive on the northern side of the border, Zgurets said.

"When we talk about the tactical and technical characteristics, we understand that the distance from Lyptsi to Kharkiv, in the shortest sections, is about 21 km. Indeed, there are samples of artillery that the Russian Federation can bring to a distance of up to 25 km and use barrel artillery to strike Kharkiv. But the Russian Federation has been able to strike this city of one million people using multiple launch rocket systems, including Smerch MLRS with a range of 120 km, guided bombs, and cruise missiles," he added.

• Since the beginning of the day on May 28, seven combat engagements have taken place in the Kharkiv sector. Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled four assaults in the areas of Starytsia and Vovchansk.