Stalled at the border: Russian advance slows in Kharkiv amid heavy resistance

According to the latest report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces have moved no further than 8 kilometres from the international border in the northern part of the Kharkiv region.

The pace of Russian offensive actions in the northern part of Kharkiv region continues to decrease after Putin's forces initially occupied areas that, according to Ukrainian officials, were less defended - write analysts from ISW.

"Russian forces operating in Russia can easily conduct artillery attacks on Ukrainian defensive positions near the international border, and Western bans on the use of supplied weapons systems for attacks on Russian rear areas across the border make potential permanent Ukrainian defensive positions near the international border vulnerable and likely indefensible" - reads the report of the American Institute for the Study of War.

As indicated, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian military have stated that Ukrainian forces have partially stabilized the northern Kharkiv region bordering Russia.

Close to 8,000 civilians have been evacuated so far from areas in the northern Kharkiv region intensely attacked by Russia - reported on Wednesday by the head of the military authorities of the region, Oleg Sinehubov.

He added that in the last 24 hours, the city of Kharkiv was the target of six rounds of bombing by the Russians. S-300 missiles, UMBP D-30 shells, and strike drones were used for the attack. As a result of these actions, 22 people were injured.

According to Ukrainian and Western sources, Russian forces intend to create a roughly 10-kilometer buffer zone in the Kharkiv region. This would put Kharkiv within the range of Russian gun artillery while Russian logistic centers would be out of reach for Ukrainian forces.