The Kharkiv direction stabilized, Ukraine restrained the impulse of the Russian Federation

Ukraine stabilized the offensive of the occupiers in the Kharkiv direction.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain on Twitter (X).

As noted in the summary, the Russians continue to attack Vovchansk, the Armed Forces repel most of the attack.

Intelligence sources add that the Russians probably control the village of Buhruvatka in the north of the Kharkiv region and are trying to establish control over the nearby crossing over the Siverskyi Donets River. This threatens the flank and rear of Ukrainian forces defending in Vovchansk itself.

The Russian army is also attacking in the direction of the village of Lyptsi, but there is no significant progress.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the occupying forces allegedly want to create a «buffer zone» in the north of the Kharkiv region. British intelligence believes that the Russians are not succeeding.

«The Northern Kharkiv front has probably stabilized, and Russian territorial control is fragmented and not unified. Russia's success on this axis will be limited over the next week as Russia's initial momentum has been held back by Ukrainian resistance,» the intelligence said.

Russian offensive on Kharkiv Oblast

It will be recalled that Russian troops intensified their shelling in the northern direction of the Kharkiv region. First of all, the enemy attacks the city of Vovchansk.

Reserve units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been sent to strengthen the defense in the Vovchansk direction. The military continues to hold back the enemy's advance.

Subsequently, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed that the Russian army had launched a counteroffensive in the Kharkiv direction. He noted that the military command knew about the enemy's plans for a new offensive and calculated the forces to respond to the attack.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported on the strengthening of positions in the Kharkiv region, where defensive operations continue.

It was also reported that the pace of Russian offensive operations in the north of the Kharkiv region has slowed down. According to analysts, Russian troops prefer the creation of a «buffer zone» near the border, rather than a deeper advance into the Kharkiv region. Defense forces prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold in Vovchansk.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian troops expanded the zone of active hostilities by almost 70 kilometers and concentrated their main efforts in the direction of Strilecha-Lyptsi and captured Vovchansk and launched an offensive in the rear of Ukrainian troops.

It is noted that the Russian occupiers in the northern part of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv Region are taking civilians captive, there have been recorded cases of shooting civilians.

On May 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia has no plans to seize Kharkiv. And he justifies the intensification of the offensive in the Kharkiv direction with shelling of Belgorod from the side of Ukraine.

On May 19, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian troops had strengthened their positions in the Kharkiv region and were ready to confront the enemy.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said that after «insignificant successes» during the offensive on Vovchansk, the Russians «completely got stuck in street battles for the city.»