Amid the ongoing conflict at the Russia-Ukraine border, civilians escaping the violence arrived in evacuation vans, each facing their own challenges.
An elderly woman struggled with her two bewildered dogs, a young boy tightly held his worn birth certificate, and an elderly couple bickered over their heavy bag. Another woman carefully carried a wire cage with a vibrant green parrot inside.
Even the parrot, the only source of color in a bleak scene, appeared anxious to escape the chaos, as described by Natasha Radchenko.
“He was trembling,” she recounted. “And hiding.”
After enduring two years of war, Ukraine continues to face new pockets of suffering.
In the past two days, thousands of civilians who had endured hardships finally left their homes in northeast Ukraine as the Russians initiated a new offensive.
On Friday morning, Russian forces launched a coordinated attack near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, using aircraft, artillery, infantry, and armor. The intense fighting over several villages just inside Ukrainian territory has left both sides engaged in heavy combat.
By Saturday evening, the outcome remained uncertain. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have seized five border settlements, a claim refuted by Ukraine. However, independent footage showed Ukrainian drone strikes on presumed Russian armor that had crossed the border. Ukrainian officials stated they were pushing back and that the Russians had advanced only a few miles beyond the border.
Experts suggest that the incursion may be part of a strategic move by Russia to divert Ukrainian forces from other battlefronts where they are already fatigued.
Retired Australian general Mick Ryan, analyzing the offensive, predicted challenging times ahead for the Ukrainian ground forces in the east, with the aim to weaken morale on both civilian and military fronts.
The looming threat poses a severe test for Ukraine, potentially leading to significant losses if they choose to defend every inch of ground.
Military analysts believe the new offensive is unlikely to reach Kharkiv’s streets, given the extensive defenses put in place by the Ukrainian military.
2024-05-11 13:41:02
Post from www.nytimes.com