Russian attack on Kharkiv region on May 10
At night, Russian troops, up to 4-5 infantry battalions - size, crossed the state border and seized four border villages - Strilecha, Krasne, Pylne, and Borysivka.
In other areas, Russian attacks were repelled, and the enemy suffered significant losses. A slight advance was also recorded in the area of Vovchansk.
The largest captured settlement is Strilecha.
This area near the border, with the exception of Strilecha, was, in fact, a grey zone, and as it turned out, the defense line was not deployed there, so the enemy managed to create a bridgehead up to 10 km wide and 5 km deep on the territory of Ukraine without any difficulty. The total area of the captured territory is over 30 square kilometres.
It is about 40 km from Kharkiv.
The Russians' actions did not come as a surprise to the Ukrainian command. But why the enemy managed to capture such a large area so quickly with infantry forces is a big question. Of course, the forces there are not equal, our tactical reserves are operating from the depths because the enemy has an advantage in the number of reconnaissance drones and means of destruction - aviation and artillery.
But they had been talking about the offensive for many months, and there was enough time to prepare so that the infantry would not march.
The enemy's further offensive was suspended, thanks to the deployment of our troops and the infliction of fire on the Russians.
However, the organization of defense in some areas was effective, and ineffective in the Strilecha area. Therefore, Russian troops are trying to advance further. The enemy is provoked by weakness.
Armored vehicles brought up infantry to Russian territory, but did not enter our territory at the beginning of the attack. But it is obvious that armored vehicles will now enter to support further infantry actions.
The enemy is advancing slowly in separate infantry groups of platoon-size each.
The enemy also crossed the border near Vovchansk.
The nature of the enemy's actions is armed reconnaissance, conducted by significant infantry forces. At the moment, the enemy has created a bridgehead for further actions, but there are no forces in the area to quickly launch a large-scale offensive on the city of Kharkiv itself.
Obviously, further developments will depend on the response of our troops - if the Russians suffer heavy losses and meet strong resistance, they will not advance and will consolidate in the captured area. But if they are not stopped and do not suffer heavy losses, they will begin to seize other areas along the border to first move the front away from the border with Russia, and then use this front as a possible bridgehead for an offensive with more significant forces.
At the moment, the Russian offensive does not pose a direct threat to Kharkiv, and there is no threat of an imminent capture of the city. Our command has concentrated significant forces to defend Kharkiv.
However, the situation is very dangerous for the future and requires quick and professional action by the Ukrainian command to recapture the tactical initiative through intelligence and precision strikes against Russian infantry.
The main thing is not to rush anyone without preparation "go ahead" to report to the top leadership on the alleged measures taken but to act systematically, plan all steps in terms of tactics and available forces, and use drones as much as possible. We have something to hit the enemy there.
At 8.00 p.m. tonight, Butusov Plus will be streaming the situation near Kharkiv and providing a operational map.
Yurii Butusov
