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Ukraine’s military chief said the possibility of a Russian attack on Kharkov cannot be ruled out.
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Oleksandr Shirushkyi said that Ukraine is preparing to defend its cities against such attacks.
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Kharkiv is located in northeastern Ukraine and is the country’s second largest city.
The top commander of the Ukrainian military said that the possibility of a Russian attack on Kharkov cannot be ruled out.
Oleksandr Shirushkyi told the Ukrainian News Agency. Ukrin form He said that his troops could not ignore reports that Russia was threatening to launch an attack on Kharkov and was preparing for such an event.
“We cannot ignore any information regarding the enemy’s preparations for offensive operations, so we are taking all measures to respond appropriately to such a possibility,” he said.
“We are carrying out a series of works to strengthen the territory and positions, install complex fencing systems and plan the use of military forces in the event of such actions,” he added.
Kharkiv, famous in Ukraine as a center of science and culture, has been coveted by Russian President Vladimir Putin since the early stages of the war.
In 2022, Russia withdraws from Kharkiv region In a lightning-fast advance, Ukraine recaptured territory previously occupied by Russia, marking one of Ukraine’s most important victories in the war.
The city may have both strategic and symbolic importance for President Putin, as it has a Russian-speaking majority and was the first capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
The city in northeastern Ukraine, near the Russian border, has been frequently attacked by missiles and drones during the war.
But on Wednesday, the Russian military resumed airstrikes on the city for the first time since 2022, killing at least one person, said Sergei Volbinov, head of the Kharkiv police investigation department. Associated Press.
Russia may also have used a new type of guided bomb in the attack, said Volodymyr Timoshko, the Kharkov regional police chief. Reuters reported.
The bomb, also known as a “glide bomb,” has a guidance system and wings, allowing the Russian military to employ “standoff” tactics and attack targets from long distances.
The new design, known as the UMPB, is believed to be a “more integrated design” than previous models, as the wings are now “part of the weapon body rather than a simple conversion kit.” International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.
Such weapons would help the Russian military supplement its “inadequate” inventory of air-launched missiles and avoid the use of free-falling bombs that bring pilots closer to the line of fire, the think tank said.
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