Victory in Kharkiv could be a lever to help Ukraine push back Russia from Donbass?

The battle in Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second largest city just a few tens of kilometers from Russia took place in the first days of the war and was extremely fierce. At one point the Russian army seemed to have gained complete control of the city. However, the Ukrainian army is always trying to counterattack to regain the territory.

During nearly 80 days of hostilities, after intense infantry clashes and fierce artillery fire, the Ukrainians are now said to have succeeded in driving the Russian army out of Kharkiv, according to Sky News.

Although the Russians were unable to capture Kharkiv, now the city has also been severely damaged by fighting as the streets are filled with burnt and ruined apartment blocks, the windows of the apartments are blown out.. .

The people of this area should have had no choice but to flee. But instead of leaving, many are determined to stick around, taking shelter in cellars or staying in fortified underground subway stations.

It was cold and murky, facilities were lacking, but at least they were safe from the shelling. Inside these shelters, there are pensioners playing cards, a few sleeping in blankets, and even young couples trying to comfort crying babies.

Tetiana and her 8-month-old son Mikhailo have been here since the war started.

“The first two or three weeks are very difficult and you often ask yourself questions: Why? Why us? Why does my baby have to sit here underground? Why all these people have to stay here? here?”, shared Tetiana.

Mother and daughter Tetiana and others had to stay in the bunker for nearly three months of the war, because of the constant fighting. Russia wanted to gain complete control of Kharkiv, but now it can’t.

Russian forces were reported to have been pushed back and had to withdraw to the Russian border. If verified, this would make a significant milestone in Ukraine’s favor during the war.

It means Ukraine can move further east threatening Russia’s logistics routes right now. Throughout this conflict, Russia has been reported to be troubled by poor logistics and it faces major problems resupplying the forces fighting in Ukraine. Several Russian tanks were reported to have been abandoned due to lack of fuel.

If the Ukrainians can use this leverage, to continue to gain an advantage east, that nightmare could worsen for the Russians, threatening their main focus in the current period. of the campaign – that of capturing the Donbass.