Russia is amassing its forces on the border with Kharkiv and Sumy as Moscow prepares for a new attack, experts say.
The Institute for the Study of War said the move is likely intended to “fix and draw” Ukraine’s army to the area and prepare for operations that aim to expand the Russian foothold in the international border area in northeastern Ukraine.
Russia sent troops across the border north of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, earlier this month, and have been slowly making gains.
Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western partners last night to allow Kyiv to strike military targets in Russia to help defend it from the Kremlin’s forces.
“We see every point of concentration of Russian troops. We know all the areas where Russian missiles and combat aircraft are launched,” Mr Zelensky said.
US and German officials have repeatedly said that they do not support Kyiv’s strikes with the Western-supplied arms inside Russia, but the tide appears to be shifting.
Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s secretary general, was one of the latest high-profile Western leaders to call for an end to the ban.
“If (Ukraine) cannot attack military targets on Russian territory then it ties one hand of the Ukrainians on their back and makes it very hard for them to conduct defence,” he said.
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