Russian forces are employing a new tactic in their advance in the Kharkiv oblast, planning to establish a border "buffer zone" by uniting footholds in Lyptsi and Vovchansk. This is stated in a report by analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) dated May 14.
"The pace of russian offensive operations in the northern Kharkiv oblast appears to have slowed over the past 24 hours, and the pattern of russian offensive activity in this area is consistent with ISW's assessment that russian forces are prioritizing the creation of a "buffer zone" in the international border area over a deeper penetration of the Kharkiv oblast", - the report says.
Citing several Ukrainian military officials, analysts note that the situation in the Kharkiv oblast is slowly stabilizing. In particular, the Chief of the General Staff Kyrylo Budanov stated on May 14 that the situation in the Kharkiv oblast began to stabilize on the night of May 13 into May 14 as additional Ukrainian units deployed to the area and began defending against russian advances. The Ukrainian General Staff and Ukrainian Khortytsia Group of Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn noted that Ukrainian forces have begun to "clear" Vovchansk by targeting visible russian assault groups in the settlement.
"Several russian and Ukrainian sources also reported that russian forces are using new tactics in this direction — using smaller assault groups of no more than five people to penetrate Ukrainian positions before merging with other small assault groups to unite into a larger strike group", - the analysts write.
Earlier, with reference to the General Staff, it was reported that in certain areas on the Kharkiv front, Ukrainian Armed Forces have moved to more advantageous positions to avoid losses.