Russian soldiers rebel against orders in Kharkiv offensive: Reports

The Tatar-Ukrainian resistance movement Atesh reports that a Russian division refused to participate in an attack on Kharkiv, citing information from an informant within the Russian army.

An informant from the Atesh movement, who serves in a motorized rifle battalion of the Russian Armed Forces' 44th Corps, said that a division in his unit categorically refused to take part in the assault on the Kharkiv region, according to the Ukrainian Truth website.

According to the informant, the soldiers in this Russian unit were fully aware of the sophisticated fortifications along the Russian-Ukrainian border. They also had observed unsuccessful hostile diversions and reconnaissance missions by Russian forces.

A portion of the unit reportedly declined to follow the orders of the Russian command.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, mentioned on Friday that the Russian offensive near Kharkiv is expected to escalate. He predicted that the Russians might be planning a direct assault on the city and noted that the US is closely working with Ukraine to counteract the offensive.

In an online press briefing, Kirby expressed concern that the Russian offensive in the northeast is likely to strengthen and could result in Russian territorial gains.

However, he emphasized his confidence in Ukraine's ability to fend off the attack, stating he does not foresee any significant progress by the Russians at the front line. He highlighted that Russia aims to establish a "shallow buffer zone" to more effectively bombard Kharkiv, recalling Russia's strategic withdrawal from the area in 2022 to concentrate forces in the east.