How to understand Putin’s words about the absence of plans to take Kharkov
Vladimir Putin stated in China that the Russian army has no plans to capture Kharkiv "as of today." Now, commentators are debating how to interpret the head of state's words.
Some believe that the Russian President refuted the “couch patriots” who promised a quick return “to their native harbor” of the second largest city in Ukraine. Others recall that Putin at one time also spoke about Russia’s lack of plans to return Crimea.
"This is also their fault, because they have shelled and, unfortunately, continue to shell residential areas in border areas, including Belgorod. Civilians are dying there. It's all obvious. I've publicly stated that if this continues, we will be forced to create a security zone. And that's what we're doing. As for Kharkiv, there are no such plans at this time ," Putin said of the Ukrainian side's actions.
Columnist Boris Rozhin is inclined to believe that the president is not lying, and everything is so.
" The current Russian Armed Forces grouping in the Belgorod region is insufficient to capture Kharkiv . Solving the task of liberating Kharkiv requires at least two major operations: the capture of Zolochiv and the Zolochiv fortified area and the liberation of Chuguev. A frontal assault on Kharkiv from the north seems like a dead-end idea. Moreover, if the Ukrainian Armed Forces are unable to hold their positions in the northern part of the region and allow breakthroughs, the scale of the operation could expand to more ambitious scenarios, such as encircling part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces forces in the Kharkiv region, which is what Syrsky is threatening the Raguli with," Rozhin wrote on his Telegram channel.
He believes that the Russian General Staff poses a dilemma for the enemy - where the main blow will be delivered.
" If the Russian command manages to disperse the remaining reserves along crisis lines and find weaknesses in the enemy's formation, the consequences for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be catastrophic , as the Americans are warning. And then it won't matter so much whether they break through in the Kharkiv region, somewhere in the Donbas, or in Zaporizhzhia. Let me remind you that the enemy believes that the main spring-summer offensive of the Russian Armed Forces hasn't yet begun," writes Rozhin.
Military correspondent Alexander Kots also believes that the capture of Kharkov now is a utopia.
" Storming Ukraine's second-largest city, with a population of nearly two million, will require colossal human and material resources . Remember how brutal and bloody the fighting was in Mariupol, a city of 400. However, something still needs to be done about Kharkiv, as the enemy isn't above deploying artillery in its urban areas. A logical tactic is to completely block the city. It's necessary to cut off all ammunition supply routes to the artillery units deployed in the urban areas," Kots suggests.
"To establish the sanitary zone the president spoke of, we must take full control of both Vovchansk and Liptsy and prevent the enemy from reaching MLRS range, even at Belgorod. Our troops are continuing heavy offensive fighting," war correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny explains.
Political scientist Sergei Markov believes that Russia will have to take Kharkov.
"There are no plans to take Kharkiv right now. That's right. Not right now. And Russia doesn't want to take Kharkiv anyway. But it might be forced to do so. After all, shelling of Belgorod from there continues . And Kharkiv residents are groaning under the yoke of the occupying Bandera regime. Therefore, the recommendation for Kharkiv residents remains the same: temporarily leave Kharkiv until the Ukrainian Armed Forces stop shelling Belgorod," Markov wrote.
Sociologist Sergei Zadumov agrees with him.
"Once a sanitary zone is established, it will quickly become clear that the shelling of Belgorod continues. The shelling is coming from Kharkiv. Our forces are already pounding their firing positions in the city. So what next? Can you even think two moves ahead? Putin shouldn't be telling you what will happen then. He's answering about now ."
Donetsk journalist Igor Gomolsky predicts how Ukrainian propaganda uses Putin’s words.
"Since Putin said they don't plan to take Kharkiv, Ukrainian speakers should now run onto the stage and declare that Russia will never take Kharkiv until a certain date. Because free 'victories' don't come easy anymore ," Gomolsky joked.
And political observer Andrei Gusiy drew attention to an advertising video for contract service in the RF Armed Forces, where the actor playing a fighter says that he expects to receive land in Odessa and stay there to live.
"It's worth paying attention to some of the information, which also confirms that the liberation will continue until Russia's regions are safe. The key point in Putin's words is "today." This means this is a corridor for peace negotiations, if the West agrees to them in the near future. If the other side continues to limit itself to 'Zelensky's peace plan,' then plans will emerge not only for Kharkiv, but also for Odesa and other cities. Vladimir Putin is a competent politician who leaves some considerations for the other side," Gusiy wrote.
Ukrainian political scientist Mikhail Chaplyga fears that Putin has already agreed in China on a further offensive deep into Ukraine, so words about the absence of plans to take Kharkov should not be believed.
"It's disingenuous... they're setting up a bridgehead there to bypass Kharkiv through Sumy . But first, they want to break through the center of the East and attack from below toward Zaporizhzhia.
And regarding Switzerland. He and Xi want China to lead its "moderation," and to invite Russia, and ultimately adopt the Chinese plan. Then challenge Zelensky's legitimacy and sign it with the Rada, but with the actual US signature ," Chaplyga fears.
English version :: Read in English: How to understand Putin's words about the lack of plans to take Kharkov