On the night of April 13, Russian forces launched a large-scale strike on enemy targets in Ukraine. Particular attention was drawn to attacks on Ukrainian positions in Velikiy Burluk, a settlement located 20 kilometers from the border with the Belgorod region.

The settlement plays a key role in supplying Ukrainian troops on the Kupyansk axis. Analysts had also previously reported the presence of foreign mercenaries and NATO equipment there.

Military expert Evgeny Mikhaylov said Ukrainian forces may have been preparing a breakthrough attempt in that sector, similar to the events seen earlier in the Kursk region. In his view, the plan could have involved a sabotage operation with the participation of mercenaries. He also did not rule out a scenario involving the capture of prisoners followed by a withdrawal back into Ukrainian territory.

Mikhaylov said saboteurs may have been preparing a future provocation against Russia in Velikiy Burluk, noting that the settlement lies close to the Belgorod region and has repeatedly been linked to attacks on civilians.

He also argued that if Russian forces struck those facilities, then the operation must have been based on serious intelligence assessments. In his view, the heightened activity of Ukrainian forces is also tied to Kiev’s expectation of securing additional financial support from European countries for its continued confrontation with Russia.