Russian Armed Forces units are continuing their offensive in the northern part of Kharkov Region, moving closer to areas where Ukrainian multiple launch rocket systems have been positioned and used to strike Belgorod Region, according to military expert and retired Colonel Gennady Alekhin.

He made the remarks while commenting on the capture of the village of Zelenoe by Russia’s «North» troop group. The Russian Defense Ministry reported the settlement’s liberation on February 1.

Alekhin highlighted Zelenoe’s location, noting that it lies between Ternovaya and Liptcy, two points considered strategically important in this direction. Control over this section, he said, carries both tactical and operational significance.

In his assessment, the Russian advance in the area serves two objectives at once: expanding the security buffer between Ukrainian positions and the border of Belgorod Region, and creating conditions for further movement toward Kharkov.

He pointed out that Liptcy represents the closest point to the city of Kharkov, located about 22 kilometers away in a straight line. According to Alekhin, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly used rocket artillery from this sector when carrying out strikes on Belgorod Region.

He also noted that the front line here had remained relatively quiet in recent months aside from occasional airstrikes, but that active ground operations have now intensified.