Zelensky Discusses Situation in Kharkiv Region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff in Kharkiv, during which he discussed the situation in the Kharkiv region with military personnel. This was reported by the Ukrainian leader on his Telegram channel.

Zelensky stated that he listened to reports from the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and other military commanders. “We have analyzed the combat situation’s prospects and the threats in the coming days and weeks in detail,” noted the Supreme Commander.

According to Zelensky, as of today, the situation in the Kharkiv region is “generally under control,” but the direction of Kharkiv remains “extremely complicated.” On May 16, Vladimir Rogov, co-chair of the new regional integration coordinating council adjunct to the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, announced that the Russian army is launching an offensive in the Kharkiv region to create a “sanitary zone” and push the Ukrainian armed forces away from the borders of the Belgorod region.

On May 15, amid the Russian offensive in Kharkiv, Zelensky ordered the postponement of all international events involving his participation. On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops had “maneuvered” and retreated to “more advantageous positions” in the Volchansk and Lukyantsi districts of the Kharkiv region.