Russia will not be able to launch a major offensive on Kyiv as it did in 2022. It lacks the necessary forces for this, according to the statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In an interview with AFP, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commented on the situation regarding the Russian advance in the Kharkiv region, stating that Russian forces intend to attack Kharkiv. He mentioned that Russians understand it will be "very difficult."
"They understand that we have forces that will fight for a long time," the president stated.
Zelenskyy also noted that Russia lacks the forces for a "a full-scale offensive on the capital like the one they had at the beginning of the offensive."
Emphasizing that Ukraine and its Western allies should not show weakness, he called for the deployment of two Patriot missile batteries to protect the skies over the Kharkiv region.
"They (the Russians) are like a beast... If they feel a weakness somewhere in this direction, they will press on," Zelenskyy added.
Situation in the Kharkiv region
Russian forces have been attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses for a week, with battles occurring in the vicinity of Vovchansk and neighboring settlements.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that Russians have advanced a maximum of 10 kilometers into northern Kharkiv region. According to him, the occupiers have reached only the first line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine but have not breached concrete fortifications.
It is worth noting that Commander of the Ground Forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, previously stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing ten new brigades, some of which will be deployed to defend Kyiv.
