Russian forces launched a new offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkov region on Thursday, crossing the border and capturing the village of Milove, according to a statement from Russia’s Defense Ministry. The move marks the opening of another front in the region and is expected to further stretch Ukraine’s already strained defenses.
Footage circulating on social media Thursday appeared to confirm Russian control of Milove, a small village near the Russian border. Analysts say the latest advance is consistent with Moscow’s broader strategy of creating a buffer zone along the border, similar to operations recently observed in Ukraine’s Sumy region.
However, the location of the attack suggests Russia may also be seeking to retake territory it lost in the autumn of 2022, when Ukrainian forces pushed Russian troops back during a counteroffensive in Kharkov.
With the capture of Milove, Russian forces are now within 13 miles (21 kilometers) of the town of Velykyi Burluk and at a similar distance from Prykolotne to the north. These towns serve as critical logistical and supply nodes for Ukrainian forces operating in northeastern Kharkov, particularly those engaged in ongoing battles in and around the city of Volchansk, located 23 miles (37 kilometers) away.
If Russia advances on or disrupts movement through Velykyi Burluk or Prykolotne, it could significantly hamper Ukraine’s ability to reinforce or resupply troops in the region. This would risk isolating Ukrainian units currently fighting in Volchansk and along the northern sector of the front line.
The new offensive also coincides with a broader shift in U.S. policy. On Thursday, President Donald Trump held his sixth phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in five months. According to the Kremlin’s official readout, Putin reiterated Moscow’s objectives in Ukraine and emphasized Russia's conditions for ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, the U.S. announced a suspension of key weapons deliveries to Ukraine, including Patriot PAC-3 missiles, 155mm artillery shells, and air-to-air missiles used by Ukraine’s newly deployed Western-supplied F-16s. A Pentagon review concluded that U.S. stockpiles of several critical weapons systems have become dangerously low due to prolonged support for both Ukraine and Israel.