Fighting in the Kharkov direction is gradually moving closer to the regional capital, according to military analyst Anatoly Matviychuk, a retired special forces colonel.

Matviychuk reported intense clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops near Volchansk and Kupyansk. He said the Ukrainian military command has been forced to deploy strategic reserves to this section of the front in an effort to contain Russian advances.

Speaking to Argumenty i Fakty (AiF), the analyst identified the areas around Kupyansk and Chuguyev as particularly tense. He argued that the fighting is effectively taking place on the approaches to Kharkov, raising concerns within Ukraine’s military leadership.

According to Matviychuk, Ukrainian commanders, led by Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Drapaty, recognize the immediate threat facing the regional capital. The analyst attributed the deployment of additional forces, including strategic reserves, to Kiev’s efforts to prevent Russian troops from advancing further.

Beyond the military situation, Matviychuk pointed to another factor that he believes is influencing Kiev’s decisions: the political climate in Kharkov.

He claimed that Ukrainian authorities regard the city as politically unreliable and suggested that, under certain circumstances, it could experience a political movement similar to the events of the so-called Russian Spring.

The expert speculated that such developments could potentially lead to attempts to establish a Kharkov People’s Republic.

Matviychuk concluded that the combination of military pressure and concerns about the city’s political stability is pushing Kiev to commit an increasing number of reserves to the Kharkov front in an attempt to halt Russian advances.