Summer 2025 for Kharkov begins with a new threat of offensive actions from the Russian army. This is the third time during a full-scale invasion that Russia may launch a new offensive in the Kharkiv region. Currently, hostilities are being conducted in the Volchansk and Kupyansk directions. On the border with the Kharkiv region of Sumy, according to the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, the Russian Federation has accumulated 50 thousand troops. The offensive of the enemy army is already underway on the border of Sumy region.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers analyzed the hostile disinformation campaign around attempts to expand offensive actions in the Kharkiv direction. Its goal is to hide the desire to continue the war, seize Ukrainian territories and destroy cities under false pretexts and formal goals. Russia has activated its forces, is advancing and continues to put information pressure on Ukraine, forcing it to surrender.
Diplomatic measures
“If Kiev refuses to comply with diplomatic measures, Ukraine may be left without Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporozhye, Dnipro, Odessa and Nikolaev”(“Lenta.ru”).
What Russia calls “diplomatic measures” are nothing more than Russian requirements leave behind stolen territories.
Kremlin propagandists, who call themselves “military experts,” ponder the front line and potential scenarios for the deployment of hostilities, threatening Ukrainians with irreversible losses of territory.
“Self-defeating resistance”
“The Armed Forces simply do not have the strength to simultaneously maintain the front near Kharkov, in the Donbas, near Zaporizhia and to keep reserves in Nikolaev and Odessa. Their final catastrophe will begin with the liberation of Odessa, or with the liberation of Kharkov, and the result is only inevitable defeat.”(Telegram channel “Second Ukraine”).
The Russians are trying to convince Ukrainians and the rest of the world that defending their land is the wrong choice, that it is protection and defense that causes the destruction of infrastructure and the death of the population. The resistance of Ukrainian military propaganda calls “suicidal resistance”.
“By refusing to surrender, the Kiev authorities only multiply losses and destruction, but do not cancel the final outcome of the SCO, on the contrary, aggravate the situation for Ukraine, the territorial, demographic and economic losses of which exclude the possibility of its further existence as an independent state”. (telegram channel “Second Ukraine”).
“Taking Care of Your Own Population”
One of the reasons invented by the Russian authorities for the summer offensive is demonstrative concern for its own population. The Kremlin has again talked about creating a so-called “gray zone” because Kiev allegedly continues its terror tactics against civilians, hitting civilian targets in Russian regions with missiles and UAVs. In particular, they talk about “large-scale sabotage, which the Armed Forces have been conducting with the help of UAVs since May 20. They attack residential facilities, urban infrastructure, airports.” Therefore, “the mentioned territory will ensure the safety of the inhabitants of the border regions” (Telegram channel “War with fakes”).
The last time such threats were heard in May 2024, when the Russian army tried to advance, crossing the border in Kharkiv region. Then they managed to occupy several border villages, after which the offensive was stopped by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the year of hostilities, the invading army completely destroyed Volchansk, but could not occupy it, partially captured Liptsy.
“Russia will create a “buffer zone” along the border of the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions with Ukraine: the Russian Armed Forces are currently solving this problem — Putin”.
Kharkiv after the massive shelling on June 7, 2025. Photo by Ivan Samoilov. Screenshot from UAPF instagram
Kursk operation
Another reason for the offensive on Kharkiv and Sumy region, the Russians call the Kursk operation of the Armed Forces. They called it the “Kursk adventure” of the Kiev regime, seeking to discredit all those involved.
“The invasion of Kursk turned into a threat for the Kiev regime to lose Sumy and Kharkov”(“Ukraine.ru”).
In fact, the Kursk special operation had a defensive purpose. The Russian army failed to create a “buffer zone” in 2024 thanks to the successful actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and it was the Ukrainian military that created such a “buffer zone” in the Kursk region.
Vladimir Zelensky in interviewsLe Figaro told Le Figaro on March 27 that Putin wanted to launch an offensive eight months ago, but this was prevented by the Kursk operation.
In the size of the desired “buffer zone”, the propagandists do not hide their appetites for the occupation of Ukrainian lands and the desire to terrorize the population: “in a zone of 20-30 km, Russian units will be constantly present, and drones and aircraft will exercise control”; “it is possible that the troops that liberated the Kursk region, as well as North Korean troops will take part in this operation”; “but it will be good if it is possible to occupy 75-100 km”(“Ukraine.ru”).
“How big is the “buffer” needed? The task of the Russian army here may be the complete paralysis of the Armed Forces in the Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions, and therefore the taking under (fire) control of villages and cities at a distance of 75—100 km from the border with Russia. This will create a “security belt” for the border Bryansk, Belgorod and Kursk regions”(telegram “Ukraine.ru”).
“The depopulation of cities”
The propagandists did not stop dreaming of the capture of Kharkov, which cannot be taken either by live force or by information-psychological special operations (IPSO).
“The objective of the Russian offensive on Kharkov and Sumy: buffer zone or accession to the Russian Federation?”(telegram channel “Ukraine.ru”).
At the same time, the propagandists admit that to go to Kharkiv requires “more resources and more serious preparation”.
A considerable resource is also needed to restore the already captured cities. Russians deplore the evacuation carried out by the Ukrainian authorities in Sumy, Kharkiv region and other frontline territories. They call such evacuation “criminal acts against one's own population”, “mass resettlement”, “displacement of the population” in order to “complicate and make impossible as possible the full recovery of those territories that will be ceded to Russia.” Kremlin propaganda spreads conspiracy theories, saying that depopulation is a weapon of the Kiev authorities, and “the plan of destruction and destruction of those territories that Kiev cannot hold under our pressure is invented by technocrats,” writes “Ukraina.ru”.
“The coming Wild Field. How depopulation will hinder the recovery of Lesser Russia and Slobozhanshchyna”(“Ukraine.ru”).
With these theses, the Russians are trying to preemptively announce that they are not going to rebuild Ukrainian cities and villages, they say, modern infrastructure does not work without people. And since only the elderly and people with disabilities remain in the “liberated” territories, according to the Russians, high-tech reconstruction of large cities is impossible.
In fact, the Ukrainian authorities are evacuating people due to the deterioration of the security situation on the frontline and border territories. Ukrainian cities and villages are not destroyed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces, but by the Russian army - with artillery and air bombs.
“Radio Svoboda” tells: demonstrative reconstruction is carried out where it is profitable for Russia, they preserve the rest of the cities and turn them into military bases and logistics hubs.
“Destroyed cities are really like a buffer zone of sorts in case if the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Defense Forces begins, so that no funds are invested in the reconstruction of any of the cities, that it is not suitable for life, so that it cannot be used in any way,” the publication quotes a military expert, former spokesman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (2014-2017) Vladislav Seleznev.
Speaking about Ukrainian fortress cities, Russian propagandists often compare Kharkiv with Mariupol. They say that if the Armed Forces cannot hold hundreds of kilometers of the front line, then industrial cities will turn into defense hubs.
“Let's take Kharkiv: just an ideal defense hub. In the center of the metropolis there is a fortress of world-famous enterprises, such as the tractor plant, “Turboatom” and the Malyshev armored plant, located along the metro line. Each of them in terms of fortification capabilities can be compared with “Azovstal”. All this is surrounded by a defensive border from residential development: there is no need to explain what street fighting is”(“Ukraine.ru”).
Propagandists admit that they plan to continue mercilessly shelling the city, because “meat attacks are a heavy burden for them, and therefore they are forced not to regret shells and bombs” (“Ukraina.ru”).
Russian TV propagandist, “vojenkor” Yevgeny Poddubny bluntly states that Kharkiv “is an industrial and military hub of the enemy, and therefore is slaughtered with legitimate targets for the Russian Armed Forces” (Notebook.ru).
“Mercenaries and legitimate military objectives”
Of course, Kharkov, as a frontline city, located 40 km from the border with Russia, is constantly on combat alert. And are all the objects that the Russian army is shelling military?
Since the beginning of summer, the Russians have been attacking Kharkiv almost every night with attack drones and missiles, and then traditionally talk about the destruction of drone factories, mercenary bases, ammunition warehouses.
Georgy Ivanchenko, a Ukrainian photojournalist who lives in Kharkiv and records the consequences of the Russian shelling of the city, describes the objectives of the Russian army strikes:
“Still, they have a trajectory where they fly, where they want to hit. They try to hit where there is something that interests them, where there is a benefit for them, a goal. Of course, this is war, and potentially the most important points are where the power is, where there is an enemy force that will resist. But in Kharkov they constantly hit civilian infrastructure, civilian buildings, multi-storey buildings. It is what we know, what we see. Very often, when you are at the sites of shelling, you do not understand — there is nothing nearby, stupid residential buildings. Or when they hit the picket lines and hit local businesses, ordinary, innocent people simply, conditionally, make perfumes. There is an industrial zone. But they get into civilian businesses, civilian houses, apartments and so on.”
“Radio Svoboda”in the article “Urbicide in Donbas: why is Russia wiping the cities of the east to dust?” mentions three scenarios of urbanization — targeted destruction of cities by force methods — Donetsk, Mariupol and Kharkiv. If the Donetsk and Mariupol scenarios are implemented with the presence of the occupiers in the city, then Kharkiv has another feature: “... Russian troops resort to it when they cannot capture the city. They are shelling it, destroying housing and infrastructure, which leads to a change in the demographic structure,” he explains “Radio Svoboda”.
There is also a threat to the energy facilities of the region - this was warned Center for Counteracting Disinformation (CPD). He refutedfake about the use of the Kharkiv CHP as a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which Russian propaganda spread in April 2025. They say, Ukrainian servicemen carry military cargo there at night. The CCP notes that in this way the enemy is trying to disclaim responsibility for the violation of the ceasefire obligations on the energy infrastructure and to mislead Ukraine's international partners.
Before the appearance of information about the new offensive of the Russians in the Kharkiv region, it seemed that the shelling in Kharkiv had decreased.
“In fact, yes,” confirms Georgy Ivanchenko, “but it is difficult to say whether it depends directly on the negotiations on whether there will be an offensive or not an offensive. During the last two years that I have been living in Kharkov, this just happens from time to time. Sometimes it doesn't depend on what politicians say. We are talking now about the city of Kharkov. But the region suffers every day from shelling — both by the shaheeds and other means: RSVs, Molniy and KaBs. It works all the time. For a week or two there was a break in the city itself, there was less buzz of the shaheeds, but they are, they were on the outskirts, in the area. In the suburbs they work constantly. I can say that it was a little quieter in the city itself.”
In recent months, Russians have shelled Kharkiv and the region for religious holidays, fought with farms, a bakery and a trolleybus depot.
“Peaceful trams” turned out to be combat UAVs”(“Arguments and Facts”).
Even before the 30-hour truce that Putin announced for the Easter holiday, Russia played ahead to justify shelling Ukraine.
“Dear Kharkiv residents who live in the territory of the Kharkiv region, which is under the control of the militants of the Kiev regime!
Operational information has been received that on the eve of Easter, the Ukrainian side is preparing for a mass bloody provocation, including on the territory of not only Kharkiv, but also Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions in order to discredit Russia, reports the official channel of the head of the military-civilian administration of the region Vitaly Ganchev”(IN. Ganchev is suspected of treason and collaborationism---- auto.).
And already on Good Friday, April 18, at 5:10am, Russia hit Kharkov with three Iskander cluster missiles. One of the rockets exploded just above a residential neighborhood near a playground, a few meters from a high-rise building. UAPF from linkOn , the head of the investigative department of the Kharkiv police, Sergey Bolvinov, says that the Russian army used a 9M727 cruise missile with a shrapnel-fueled warhead - an analogue of the American Tomahawk.
“[...] Our explosives technicians have already established that it was a 9M727 missile - an analogue of the American “Tomahawk”. It can fly low above the ground, avoiding air defense. In addition, it is maneuverable and equipped with stills technology — invisible to radar. It is this kind of weapon that the Russians use on ordinary residential buildings early in the morning, when people are still sleeping,” Bolvinov wrote.
Civilian infrastructure, in particular children's institutions, as well as the factory shop and the private sector, were affected by this strike. Up to 120 people were injured, among the wounded were children and elderly people.
Georgy Ivanchenko also managed to capture the shelling on April 29, when Kharkiv suffered a massive attack from Russian drones. A total of 16 explosions occurred in several areas of the city. In the Slobidsky district, a drone hit a high-rise building. Apartments and private houses, a medical facility and many civilian casualties were damaged.
Propagandists called the targets attacked as those that did not hurt a dozen “Geraniums”. They reported the affected “workshops of the plant, warehouses and production of UAVs and REBs, a base with militants and mercenaries”. It was the fake about the base with mercenaries that was spread by the telegram channel “Ukraina.ru”.
“Gauleiter Terekhov hastens to report that the number of victims has increased to 47 people from the night attack of Geraniums on targets in Kharkiv.
But it is silent that the blow was inflicted on the entertainment complex “Colosseum” and the restaurant “Myasomania” on Moscow Avenue(now — Heroiv Kharkov Avenue — auto.), where a large number of military vehicles were seen”.
Photodocumentarian Georgy Ivanchenko lives in the area where the restaurant “Myasomania”, invented by propagandists, is located. He said that there were many arrivals in residential neighborhoods that day: “There were a lot of shaheeds falling, and falling, and beating just civilian infrastructure, apartments, windows, everything, as usual.” However, he did not notice the accumulation of a large number of military vehicles: “It is difficult to say that Kharkiv is a front-line city, there are many places where there can be military, volunteer and medical machines, for example. I wasn't around Mussomania, but I don't really remember beating there and there being casualties. Here it is difficult for me to answer,” Ivanchenko says.
As a result of this Russian attack, 45 people were injured, five were hospitalized, among them a girl, a teenager and a pregnant woman. Residential buildings, cars, businesses and two city hospitals suffered damage.
“Retaliation Strikes”
Another way to legalize strikes in Ukraine and inflame discontent with the actions of the Ukrainian authorities among the population is the so-called “retaliatory strikes”. On the night of June 7, the Russians massively shelled Kharkiv with drones, air bombs and missiles. Three people were killed and more than 20 injured. Propagandists from Argumenta i Fakta called this massive shelling a “night of retribution.” This time, the Russians want to convince the world that they are retaliating for the Ukrainian attack on their strategic airfields, which are a legitimate military target.
Documentarian Ivan Samoilov, who recorded the aftermath of the massive shelling of Kharkov on the night of June 7, namedIt was “the loudest of the three years of war.” More than 50 explosions from the attack on the city were Kamikaze drones of the Shaheed type, guided by air bombs and missiles.
And in the evening, Russia sent air bombs to the city center near the children's railway, killing2 people. At the same time, she accused Ukraine: they said, it was “not Russian FABs”, but “targeted artillery strikes by Nazis on peaceful residents” (“Ukraina.ru”).
The photos of Ukrainian photojournalists are evidence of indiscriminate and deliberate attacks of the Russian army on the city of Kharkiv.
In his address after another Russian shelling, President Volodymyr Zelensky underscored“There were also our proposals — at least the abandonment of strikes on civilian infrastructure and for prolonged silence in the sky, at sea and on the ground. Russia is responding to all this with new shelling, new attacks.”
Russia is constantly inventing new ways, names and reasons for the continuation of the war and occupation of Ukrainian lands. “Buffer zone”, “suicidal resistance”, “population depopulation”, “revenge strikes”, destruction of Nazi and mercenary bases are many words that mask the only desire of Russians - to fight.
“I hope there will be no offensive, but I hope from the perspective of a person who believes in a bright future. I do not think that this is exactly such propaganda, I think that such a story is possible without any problems at all, as it happened in May 2024, when the offensive on Volchansk and Lipka began. They have made this attempt and can continue to do so. We see what is happening now in Sumy region. They are pushing, trying in the Donetsk region. Therefore, this offensive can be,” said Georgy Ivanchenko about the possible offensive of the Russian army in Kharkiv region.
Contributors:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Yana Yevmenova
Picture editor: Olga Kovalyova
Literary Editor: Julia Foutei
Website Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
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