Spokesperson for Eastern Group of Ukrainian Armed Forces speaks on potential Russian offensive on Kharkiv

The spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Cherevatyi, shared the information in an interview with RBC-Ukraine

When asked whether Russian forces were moving toward Kupiansk, he replied, "They are trying to counterattack there. But the situation is under control and it is similar to the Lyman direction. That is, we see their actions there and we are stopping them."

According to Cherevatyi, Ukrainian soldiers are monitoring Russian troops’ maneuvers in the Kharkiv direction and understand that Russia can strike in any direction, including this area.

"Theoretically, they can launch such a strike in any direction. More importantly, they are constantly in our field of vision. We have very powerful intelligence. Kharkiv region is on the alert, there are battle-hardened units there to meet the enemy," he emphasized.

The spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces noted that Russia failed to carry out a blitzkrieg in the Kharkiv direction in February 2022, they managed to advance, but even then they faced fierce resistance when people quickly signed up for the territorial defense forces and Ukrainian units approached. So now the Ukrainian military is in constant combat readiness.

"And now, when the enemy is constantly being monitored and all our units are in constant combat readiness, I don't think the enemy will be able to take any unexpected, rapid actions," he added.

• Earlier, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov suggested that Russian forces might attack in Kharkiv or Zaporizhzhia regions.

• Following the statement, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Synyehubov, said that he did not rule out the possibility of a Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region. At the same time, he emphasized that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are ready for such a scenario.

• On February 13, Major Oleksandr Hanushchyn of the 103rd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that 15 km north of Kupiansk, Russian troops were trying to regain positions along the Oskil River.