Pentagon admits Russian forces are 'making advances' near Kharkiv
(Baonghean.vn) - Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said: "We know very well that there are tens of thousands of Russian soldiers in Ukraine."
Russia's TASS news agency reported on May 22 that Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said at a regular press briefing that the US Department of Defense believes Russian forces are advancing near the Kharkov area on the fighting route.
“I don’t have specific numbers to provide other than to say that we know there are tens of thousands of Russian troops in Ukraine,” the US Air Force major general said when asked to specify how many Russian troops are participating in special operations in Ukraine.
“Of course, near Kharkov they are launching a new offensive and making some small advances,” he added.
Also according to TASS, Kiev admitted that the situation in the Kharkov region is extremely tense for the Ukrainian army. The Ukrainian General Staff announced on May 14 that Kiev forces must "move to more favorable positions" near Volchansk and Lukyantsy.
The Ukrainian military command also reported sending additional reservists to the area.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky admitted that Kiev is drawing these units from other frontline areas. Mr. Zelensky held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s headquarters in Kharkiv on May 16 and called that direction an extremely difficult frontline area.
The Russian Defense Ministry earlier reported that its troops had taken control of several residential communities in the Kharkiv region. On May 14, the same source said that their troops were advancing deep into enemy defense lines.
