Russia is set for a long war. In the worst-case scenario, the Kremlin could repeat the strategy it used against Syria's Aleppo in 2016 in Kharkiv, according to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Lytvynenko.
He reminded that in Aleppo, Russian aviation supporting the Syrian government in the civil war destroyed electricity and water supply systems, as well as bombed hospitals and schools. At that time, Aleppo's population decreased to a third of its pre-war level before the Assad retook regained the city from opposition forces.
Lytvynenko says that the Russian army pushed people out, and they want to do the same thing around Kharkiv.
Aleppo
In 2012, the Syrian civil war engulfed Aleppo, and it became one of the key battlegrounds. In 2016, Russia intervened in the conflict, providing decisive support to the Bashar al-Assad regime. Intensive bombardment began in the eastern districts of Aleppo, where opposition fighters and civilians sought refuge.
Russian offensive in Kharkiv region
On May 10, Russian troops launched another offensive in the Kharkiv region. They aimed to break through Ukrainian defenses on the border, capture the city of Vovchansk, and then move on to Kharkiv.
However, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the attack and inflicted significant losses on the enemy.
The White House has already recognized the failure of Russia's new offensive, emphasizing the effectiveness of the Ukrainian military.
