How the Ukrainian army retook Kharkiv 

Created: 05/18/2022, 15:01

By: Marvin Ziegele

Ukrainian soldiers inspect a destroyed tank near Kharkiv.

© Imago Images

Kharkiv is considered an important strategic destination for Russia.

But Ukraine is gaining ground with a counteroffensive. 

Kharkiv – According to its own statements, the Ukrainian army has gained further territory in the region around the city of Kharkiv in the north-east of the country.

Soldiers from the 127th brigade had "driven out the Russians and recaptured the state border," the Defense Ministry said in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, in the Donbass region, the Ukrainian army prepared for increased attacks by Russia on Monday.

Moscow reacted to the planned NATO accession of Sweden and Finland with warnings.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released a video showing soldiers standing at a yellow and blue border post.

"We made it, we're here," one of the soldiers said to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The unit had reached the border "to the occupied country".

War in Ukraine: Kharkiv in Ukrainian hands after counter-offensive

According to Kiev, the Ukrainian troops succeeded in recapturing the areas north of Kharkiv after a counter-offensive.

Russia is withdrawing its units from the region and relocating them to the Donbass for a new offensive towards Luhansk, said Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych.

On May 6, Ukraine launched a full-scale counteroffensive and recaptured Tsyrkuny, Peremoha and Cherkasi Tyshky.

“The main gain was that we pushed most of the Russian artillery out of Kharkiv range;

it was a great relief,” Major Nicolai Pavluyk told the Independent news portal.

“It was also a great feeling to be on the front lines and forcing them to retreat and reclaim territory.

We used to blow up bridges to stop the Russians, now they are blowing up bridges to stop us.”

Ukraine conflict: Kharkiv as a strategic target for Russia

As the Independent reports, Kharkiv, as a large Russian-speaking city, is a key strategic target for Russia during the war.

Before the start of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicted that Kharkiv would be taken under the pretext of "protecting" the residents.

The city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, even acknowledged that "Kharkiv has always been considered more or less loyal to Russia."

The United States also declared that Ukraine "won the Battle of Kharkiv."

According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, what is now happening in the city reinforces the growing conviction that “Ukraine can win this war”.

But members of the Ukrainian armed forces warn against overconfidence, according to the Independent, as the region around the city is still under fire.

(marv)