Ukraine Defended Kharkiv Region... Russia Decides to Withdraw

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] Ukrainian forces have defended the northeastern Kharkiv region, which had been occupied by Russia, according to major foreign media reports on the 10th (local time).

According to reports, Igor Konashenkov, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Defense, stated on the day, "We have decided to reorganize the units deployed in Barakliya and Izium," adding, "We will strengthen the Donetsk front to achieve the objective of the special military operation to liberate Donbas." He further said, "To prevent casualties among our troops, the air force and missile and artillery units launched powerful attacks against the enemy." TASS news agency reported that the Russian-appointed Kharkiv regional administration advised all residents to "evacuate to Russia to save their lives."

Izium and Barakliya are key strategic points within Kharkiv region, with Izium being a gateway city toward Sloviansk in Donetsk region. Russia has used Izium, which it occupied last April, as a supply base for its Donbas offensive.

In this context, the announcement of withdrawal is effectively seen as Russia abandoning the Kharkiv region. Ukraine captured Barakliya the day before and took Kupiansk just hours before Russia's announcement. Oleh Nikolenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, posted a photo on Twitter of Ukrainian soldiers raising the flag at Kupiansk City Hall. It is interpreted that Russia has revised its strategy to defend the occupied areas in Donetsk region, which are in crisis, instead of holding onto Kharkiv region where control has already shifted.

By seizing Kupiansk, a northeastern railway hub, Ukraine has cut off supply routes for up to 10,000 Russian troops stationed in Izium. Additionally, Ukraine has secured advantageous positions to launch a pincer attack on Izium from Barakliya in the northwest and Kupiansk in the northeast.

Russia is also struggling in Donetsk. Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), a pro-Russian separatist entity that declared independence, said, "The situation in northern Lyman is very difficult," and "fighting is ongoing in several northern parts of Donetsk region." Lyman is adjacent to Sloviansk in northern Donetsk region, which Ukraine holds, and lies behind Izium.

According to the U.S. think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine has recaptured 2,500 square kilometers of territory this month, an area more than four times the size of Seoul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on the 8th that the territory regained this month was about 1,000 square kilometers, so according to ISW's analysis, the reclaimed area more than doubled in just two days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.