The ISW explained why Russia started an offensive in the Kharkiv region and what is achieving
The report reminded that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin answered the journalist's questions about the tasks of Russian troops in the Kharkiv direction. He noted that the army of the Russian Federation was successful "and that Russian troops do not have direct plans for the capture of Kharkiv.
According to Putin, Russian offensive operations in the Kharkiv direction are intended to create a "buffer zone" for the protection of Russian border areas, including the city of Belgorod, from strikes from Ukraine. "According to the ISW, Russian troops seem to priority to create a" buffer zone "along the international border, not to create conditions for deeper penetration into the northern regions of Kharkiv region," the report reads.
The institute continues to evaluate that Russian offensive operations along the Kharkiv International Border, have a strategic goal to attract and consolidate Ukrainian forces on this axis to ensure the promotion of the Russian Federation in other parts of Eastern Ukraine. ISW believes that even the limited activity of Russia in other areas of the international border below the threshold of Russian offensive operations can lead to stretching of Ukrainian forces on a wider front.
Russian troops will be able to distract and secure the Ukrainian forces in the border area until the aggressor maintains its presence in the north of the Kharkiv region and will threaten penetration into other border areas.
"Russian troops demonstrate a tendency to carry out offensive operations in different areas of the front" pulses "when the intensity decreases in one area and increases in the other, and Russian troops can slow down offensive operations in the north of the Kharkiv region for a while, but to restore their pace later your own choice, "the report reads.