According to the commander of the Ukrainian National Guard, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pivnenko, Russian forces may attempt to seize Kharkiv, but they will not succeed. In an interview with LIGA.net, Pivnenko stated that Russian war strategies rely on conventional methods, but such a scenario would prove challenging for the city of Kharkiv due to constant attacks on critical infrastructure.
“They are capable only of acting conventionally. Two or three diversionary directions and one main one. However, for Kharkiv, this story will be difficult because there will be constant attempts to destroy critical and civilian infrastructure objects,” he explained.
Pivnenko believes that for the Russians to capture Kharkiv, they would have to fight for years, noting that it is more likely for Russia to change its leadership and abandon its plans than to gain control of the city, risking the lives of thousands of its soldiers.
“Remember how long Bakhmut and Avdiivka held out. It is easier for the Russians to change the leadership of the Russian Federation and abandon their plans than to take the city, laying down thousands of their soldiers.”
Currently, Ukrainian military forces and the National Guard are actively preparing to defend the city and its residents in case of any threat from Russian forces. Infrastructure and defensive measures are being developed on the front lines to ensure maximum security and protection of Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian society and international communities are closely monitoring the situation in the region and expressing readiness to provide necessary support to Ukraine in case of a escalation of the conflict in the country’s east.