Putin Claims Russia's Attacks on Kharkiv: No Plans to 'Capture' the City

As Russia continues its attacks on Kharkiv in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, claimed on Friday, May 17, that the purpose of these attacks is to 'create a buffer zone' and that Moscow has no plans to capture the city. During his visit to China on Friday, Putin stated that Russia's actions in the Kharkiv region are a response to Ukraine's shelling of the Belgorod region. He mentioned that if this situation continues, 'we will be forced to create a security buffer zone.' This claim by Putin is similar to assertions made by Russia prior to its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, when Moscow expressed anger over Ukraine's desire to join NATO. The United States had also warned weeks earlier about a 'imminent attack' by Russia, pointing to the military buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine's border. However, at that time, Russia insisted it had no intention of invading Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that a large-scale drone attack by Ukraine on Crimea early Friday caused power outages in the city of Sevastopol and damaged an aircraft and fuel depot at an airbase, as well as igniting a refinery in southern Russia. An intelligence official from Ukraine confirmed that the Security Service and Military Intelligence of Ukraine conducted a joint operation targeting Russian military infrastructure in the occupied Novorossiysk and Sevastopol. Reuters reported that the Ukrainian drone attacks reflect the country's efforts to compensate for Russian assaults in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, which have impacted the Ukrainian army due to shortages of equipment and weaponry. According to this official, the operation aimed to target vessels and ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet using drones made in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that air defense shot down 51 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, 44 more over the Krasnodar region, and six drones over the Belgorod region. On the other hand, Ukrainian forces are trying to halt Russian advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region that began late last week. The city of Vuchansk, located just 5 kilometers from the Russian border, has recently been the center of conflicts. Ukrainian officials evacuated about 8,000 civilians from this city. According to reports, the usual tactic of the Russian army is to turn cities and villages into ruins with airstrikes before sending in its troops. Russia is also testing defensive equipment at other points along approximately 1,000 kilometers of the frontline of the war, which has turned into a protracted conflict over the past 18 months. Since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, the United States and other NATO members have provided billions of dollars in weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Ukraine. The U.S. and its allies have also sanctioned thousands of individuals, companies, organizations, and entities in Russia in this regard. Ukraine's request to Western countries: Turn your support from words into action. Blinken's renewed reference to the Islamic Republic's military assistance to Russia; allocation of an additional two billion in military aid to Ukraine. Dozens of Ukrainian drones attack Russia; Kyiv is working to prevent Russian advances in Kharkiv. Putin and Xi emphasized strengthening the leadership relations between Russia and China. Zelensky in Kharkiv: The situation is difficult but under control.