Russia’s military is reportedly concentrated on the border with Ukraine north of Kharkiv, which could indicate preparation for offensive operations.
Russian forces appear to be amassing troops and massing in unknown numbers near the Ukrainian border in western Belgorod Oblast. Analysts believe, according to a report by ISW, that this could serve to tie down Ukrainian forces in the region while planning offensive operations to expand Russia’s sphere of influence in the border area in northeastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 26 that Russian armed forces were preparing for new offensive actions and concentrating troops near the Ukrainian border, about 90 kilometers northwest of the city of Kharkiv.
According to ISW, Zelensky is referring to the Graivoron-Borisovka-Proletarsky region in the western Belgorod Oblast. Satellite images analyzed by ISW indicate that Russian forces have increased their activities in the region in recent weeks.
However, the exact size of the possible Russian troop concentration in the Graivoron-Borisowka-Proletarsky area remains unclear. The representative of the Ukrainian State Border Service, Andrei Demchenko, expressed on May 26 the suspicion that Russian forces could launch offensive operations in Sumy Oblast or in regions of Kharkiv Oblast bordering Sumy Oblast. The aim could be to further stretch and tie down the Ukrainian armed forces along the international border line in northeastern Ukraine.