Too early to talk about Russia’s offensive on Kharkiv - military spokesman

He stated this on the Espreso TV channel.

"It is too early to talk about the Russian offensive on Kharkiv. At the moment, Russia is really gathering its main reserves near the village of Synkivka, where it is deploying Storm-Z and Storm-V units. The Russians are also trying to put pressure near Siverske. In other words, the enemy is trying to put pressure from several directions at once, trying to find a weak gap in Ukrainian defense to develop an offensive. The enemy is actively using aviation, artillery and UAVs. The enemy suffers heavy losses every day. Every third company in their battalions is an assault company," explained Yevlash. According to the head of the press service of the Khortytsia operational and strategic military grouping, powerful fortifications have been set up in the Kupyansk sector.

"Since the end of summer, powerful engineering works and fortifications have been carried out in this area, rows of anti-tank ditches have been built, and 'dragon's teeth', which are fastened together with iron cables, have been installed. There is heavy mining, both with anti-personnel mines and anti-tank mines. That is, there are a lot of engineering barriers with the arrangement of strongholds and the installation of heavy concrete defenses. Our task, given the shortage of ammunition, is to gain a foothold and take the most powerful positions and inflict irreparable losses on the enemy. Currently, we are on the defensive, and our task is to wear down the enemy's offensive potential. The intensity of the fighting is fierce, and it is now reaching its peak," Yevlash said.

• Russian Telegram channels are spreading fake news that Kharkiv's leadership is allegedly preparing to flee the city. Mayor Ihor Terekhov responded to the fake news.
• On February 25, it was reported that Russian propaganda had spread a fake claiming that people in the UK were betting on which city would be captured by the Russian Federation next