Ukraine's army chief reports Russia's troop buildup in Kharkiv region
- Russia is increasing its troop concentration in the critical Kharkiv region, as reported by Ukraine's army chief.
- Ukraine's forces are enhancing their defensive lines in response to the escalating tensions.
- The situation in the Kharkiv region remains highly volatile and concerning.
The chief of Ukraine's army said Russia is sending more troops to the northeastern Kharkiv region. This is where Moscow's forces have made big progress in a spring attack. Ukraine's GUR military intelligence operation said sea drones destroyed two Russian KS-701 patrol boats in the Black Sea near the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula. The air force reported overnight attacks with eight S-300 ballistic missiles, 11 cruise missiles, and 32 Shahed drones. Most drones and seven cruise missiles were shot down. Russian aerial strikes were also seen in Khmelnytskyi and Dnipropetrovsk, but no injuries were reported. Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi mentioned that Russia is moving army units into the Kharkiv region from other parts of Ukraine to support forces in Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Ukraine has also sent reserve troops to the area. However, Syrskyi stated that the current forces are not enough for a big offensive. The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, criticized Russia's use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a "poison." He signed an agreement with the Czech government to fight against it. Blinken hinted that the U.S. may allow Ukraine to use American weapons to attack targets in Russia. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg suggested that members of the military alliance should reconsider restrictions on the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron said Western countries should let Ukraine strike military bases inside Russia with the advanced weapons they are providing. Russia accused the U.S., NATO, and some European countries of encouraging Ukraine's war with Russia. Ukraine stated that it has stabilized the front in the northeastern Kharkiv region after Russian forces launched an assault on May 10.