Russian army can still fulfil maximum programme in Kharkiv region - Dykyi

Russian army can still fulfil maximum programme in Kharkiv region - Dykyi

The Russian Armed Forces have broken through the border and are advancing in the Kharkiv region. A veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Yevhen Dykyi, warned that the enemy could still fulfil its maximum expectations from this operation. This is known from his comments on Radio NV on 16 May.

"This was not a reconnaissance battle. Excuse me, you don’t gather 50,000 troops for reconnaissance by combat. This is definitely a full-fledged offensive, it was planned that way from the start. It has a minimum programme and a maximum programme," the expert stressed.

According to him, the minimum expectations of the Russian Federation are to open another direction on the frontline, to which Ukraine will have to transfer its reserves.

"That’s how we know their weaknesses and that’s what we are hitting, and unfortunately, they know our weaknesses in the same way. They know very well that our main weakness right now is the lack of reserves, the lack of fighters," explained Dykyi.

He noted that in this situation, it was "very wise" to lengthen the front, forcing the transfer of combat-ready units. As a result, some soldiers will not be able to reach the areas where the "main battles" are taking place - Chasivyi Yar, Pokrovsk or Kurakhove.

"And to their credit, they have fulfilled this minimum programme," the veteran said.

He is convinced that even the enemy’s maximum expectations are not to attack Kharkiv directly. The expert argued that the Russian Federation understands that 50,000 soldiers are not capable of taking the city.

"But to get to the positions from which we drove them in 2022 and from which they can nightmare the city with cannon artillery and Grads - this is their task. This is their maximum programme, and they are trying to squeeze it out. To be honest, there is no guarantee that they will not succeed," he said.