War in Ukraine
New Russian military group launches attack on Kharkiv region
The symbol of the Sever military group: an X on a diamond.
© IMAGO/ITAR-TASS
Russian units have been advancing in the Ukrainian Kharkiv region since Friday. The troops belong to a new Kremlin military unit. However, analysts believe that a major attack on the regional capital is unlikely. Accordingly, Moscow’s goal is different.
This article first appeared on ntv.de.
Russian troops have been leading since Friday morning Attacks in the Ukrainian border region of Kharkiv. A new Russian military group called Sever (German: Nord) is reportedly responsible for this. George Barros, an analyst at the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), describes Sever as an “operationally significant” unit.
Russia mobilizes tens of thousands to attack Kharkiv
“Russia tried to mobilize 60,000 to 100,000 soldiers for the attack on Kharkiv. We assume it is closer to 50,000,” Barros told US broadcaster CNN. Nevertheless, the formation has great combat power. Barros currently believes that an attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, is unlikely. It is more likely that Moscow wants to force Kiev to move reserves from the east to the north. By thinning the Ukrainian lines, Russia hopes to find new vulnerabilities. The Donetsk region remains Russia’s “most important operational target for 2024,” said Barros.
Current assessment: Kremlin could intensify attacks in the coming days
The ISW assumes that Russia has so far only deployed a limited number of combat troops in the Kharkiv region. Accordingly, Ukrainian war bloggers reported on the deployment of two companies of the 7th motorized rifle regiment, two battalions of the 18th motorized rifle brigade, as well as elements of the 30th motorized rifle regiment and the 128th motorized rifle brigade.
According to Ukrainian military observer Alexander Kovalenko, Moscow has around 2,000 soldiers in the combat zone and 1,500 to 2,000 men in immediate reserve. At least 20 Russian military vehicles are said to have been destroyed since Friday, with Russia focusing on infantry advances, according to the ISW. However, analysts assume that the Kremlin will intensify its attacks in the coming days.