Kharkiv's peril: Zelensky calls for global awareness amid Russia's siege
The Economist, citing military sources in Kyiv, suggests that Russia has decided to turn Kharkiv into a "gray zone" uninhabitable by civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Sunday evening, stating that the world must be informed about the suffering of Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities.
The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terechow, firmly denied this claim. In an interview conducted in a secret location in the industrial district, Terechow said that Kharkiv "has no intention of surrendering".
Offensive on Kharkiv?
A source in Ukrainian intelligence informed that Russia is currently preparing six divisions (about 120,000 soldiers) in Eastern Siberia. According to the publication, "Kharkiv is one of several possible targets for the future offensive". The frequency of such messages in the media has been on the rise.
"Capturing the city would require breaking through Ukraine's defence and encircling it, which Russia appears incapable of; achieving air superiority, which is uncertain; and succeeding in a bloody urban campaign," writes The Economist.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday evening stated that the international community must be made aware of the suffering of Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities under attack by the Russians. He reiterated his call for support for his country's air defence systems.
"It is quite obvious that the current capacity of Ukraine's air defense is not sufficient, and this is clear to our partners," he said.
Russians attack Kharkiv daily
"The world must finally be made aware of the suffering inflicted by the Russians on Kharkiv, Kupiansk, cities in the Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia, the Sumy region, and many other Ukrainian communities," he emphasized.
He added that there are "defensive systems that can help. All that is needed is the political will to transfer these systems to Ukraine."
On Saturday, due to Russian attacks using drones and missile strikes, six people were killed in Kharkiv, in the northeast of Ukraine.
In recent weeks, the Russians have targeted many energy infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv and the region. Consequently, schedules for power outages have been introduced. In Kharkiv alone, the deficit is between 100 and 200 megawatts of electricity, said Oleg Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional administration, to the UNIAN agency on Thursday.
