Countless social media posts claim, Russia is trying to attack Kharkiv with 50,000 soldiers. Not 500,000 but 50,000.
Even though the Russian army has made some bad decisions in the past, I have a hard time believing this number. Mainly because, that is the magnitude of the force they used to take Bakhmut, which was a city with a prewar population of 73,000; and Kharkiv is a city of 1,419,000 — so 20 times larger.
If anyone has seen a credible source for the 50,000, please let me know.
@randahl I don't think it's a serious attempt to take Kharkiv. Rather, it's about trying to keep Kharkiv in range of their artillery, and Belhorod out of range of Ukrainian strikes.
The attack serves a purpose of distracting Ukrainian forces from the east, during a time of disproportionate Russian troops, and also might lead to the regular bombardment of Kharkiv with comparatively inexpensive artillery strikes, as compared to more expensive air strikes. /1
@randahl I have no idea what the real number is, but it doesn't sound strange to me. It is fine for them as long as they can keep getting some land. If they can get close enough to start destroying the city with cheap artillery, then they will achieve their goal. They know, they cannot get Kharkiv, so they want to destroy it. Make sure people will start escaping. The more die or escape, the better. (Russian culture!)
@randahl
TBH that looks more like a psyop to make Ukraine pull resources from other parts of the frontline e.g. to make attacks on Chasiv Yar higher chance for success.