Russia launches new offensive targeting Kharkiv Oblast

On May 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russian forces had launched a new offensive operation targeting Kharkiv Oblast.

"Russia has begun a new wave of offensive actions toward Kharkiv. Ukraine responded with our troops, brigades, and artillery," Zelensky said during a press briefing with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova in Kyiv.

Moscow recently escalated attacks against Kharkiv, amid speculation that Russia might aim to attack the city as part of a larger offensive in the coming months.

Earlier in the day, the Defense Ministry reported that Russian forces attempted to breach Ukraine's defensive lines in Kharkiv Oblast.

Zelensky indicated that Russian troops might mobilize additional assault units in the region. He noted that the Ukrainian military command anticipated this potential offensive and had been preparing for it.

"Currently, there's fierce fighting in the Kharkiv direction," Zelensky stated.

Fighting ongoing near several Kharkiv Oblast villages, Russia storming Pletenivka

Russian forces are assaulting the outskirts of Pletenivka, a border village in Kharkiv Oblast, according to a report from Ukrainska Pravda on May 10, which cited an unnamed military source. The Kyiv Independent could not independently confirm the report's accuracy.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that Russian troops had attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses in Kharkiv Oblast. Later, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia had begun new offensive operations in the region.

Pletenivka is located approximately 2 kilometers from the Russian border. Ukrainian forces are actively blocking Russian troops' advance near Hatyshche, with active combat ongoing, according to Ukrainska Pravda's source.

"Active firefights are happening near the village of Krasne, and Ukrainian Defense Forces are engaging the enemy in this combat area," the source told Ukrainska Pravda.

The Kyiv Independent asked Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, about the situation near these settlements, but he declined to confirm or deny the reports.

"In the interest of the ongoing operation, I cannot provide any additional information at this time. Further details will be made available later," Voloshyn said.

Reports indicated that Russian troops might have captured several villages in Kharkiv Oblast as they push toward Vovchansk. However, Governor Oleh Syniehubov clarified that the border settlements are in a "grey zone" where fighting continues, but no ground has been lost at this time.

Heavy fighting is ongoing along the front line, and more troops will be sent to the Kharkiv sector

Heavy fighting with Russian troops is ongoing along the entire front line, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 10 after hearing a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Earlier that day, Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced that Russian forces had attempted to break through in Kharkiv Oblast. Zelensky later confirmed that Russia was launching new offensive operations in the area.

Following media reports suggesting that Russian troops had captured several villages in Kharkiv Oblast as they pushed toward Vovchansk, Governor Oleh Syniehubov clarified that hostilities are ongoing in the border areas but that no ground had been lost.

"Russian troops attempted to expand operations against Ukraine. We understand the size of their forces and see their plan," Zelensky said in his evening address.

Zelensky and Syrskyi discussed bolstering the positions of the Ukrainian military in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as in Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian army struck back against Russian forces, according to the president. Syrskyi said that decisions had been made that "will give more opportunities to our soldiers," as reported by Zelensky.

"We are sending more troops to the Kharkiv sector. Both along our state border and across the entire front line, we will systematically disrupt any Russian offensive intentions," the president added.

Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, explained that Russia's increased activity along the Kharkiv Oblast border might be a psychological operation aimed at diverting Ukrainian troops from active combat areas in the east.

Voloshyn also noted that Russian forces are unsuccessfully attempting to break through in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, specifically near the Serebryanskyi forest and in the Lyman area.