Ukrainian media report new Russian advances, while the appointment of Yuriy Sodol as new commander of the eastern front sparks criticism.
As of the morning of May 20, Ukrainian media reported the advance of Russian troops near the village of Lyptsi, 17 kilometres from the Kharkiv district road. Additionally, Ukrainian troops acknowledged Russian success in the Buhruvatka area. The Russian soldiers reportedly seized the entire forest area to the east of the village.
Besides, the Russians took almost the entire northern part of Vovchansk, while the main troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) withdrew beyond the Vovcha River, Ukrainian media reported. However, fierce fighting for the city continues.
Russian troops are reportedly maintaining strong pressure on their flanks in order to bypass the AFU grouping in Vovchansk. They also intend to take the communications of Ukrainian troops under fire control. The Ukrainians are responding with pulling reserves and counterattacks to halt the advance.
Alongside the Russian advance in Kharkiv region, Ukrainian media note Russian activity near the villages of Robotyne and Verbove. The area was noted to be the only one where the AFU had some success during the summer-autumn counter-offensive in 2023. Meanwhile, the AFU General Staff notes strong pressure from Russian forces in Donetsk region in some villages.
Ukrainian sources confirm that Russia has again crossed the border at Zelene in the northern Kharkiv region in an attempt to seize the village. The takeover of Zelene would unite the offensive flanks at Lyptsi and Vovchansk. Russian forces reportedly made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the area a week ago.
Russian pressure
Russia’s troops continue their attempts to isolate the battlefield in the breakthrough area. They are actively using Lancet drones. Russian media publish a strike on a Polish Rosomak armoured personnel carrier deployed to Vovchansk.
Furthermore, Russian media publish a video with new captured AFU soldiers surrendered in Kharkiv region. In the footage, a Ukrainian prisoner of war gives his full name to a Russian soldier.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian media report an ongoing conflict over the sabotage of defence fortifications in Kharkiv region. Russian troops were reportedly able to cross the border unhindered due to the lack of adequate fortifications. Residents of Kharkiv showed a construction site where a huge pile of “dragon’s teeth” had been brought in for their later deployment, probably not for military use.
Yuriy Sodol: new commander, old questions
The Ukrainian military leadership has reportedly appointed Yuriy Sodol as commander of the Khortytsia strategic task force. The unit is fighting on Ukraine’s long eastern front stretching from Kharkiv region to the city of Vuhledar. In February, France 24 described Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol, 53, as a “solid soldier.”
As Mariupol came under siege, the captain of the Azov regiment acted as de-facto commander. According to Nizhnikau, although Sodol has in no way been accused of any wrongdoing, his and others’ role in this tragedy is heavily discussed in Ukraine.
However, soldiers and commanders of the AFU do not seem to be pleased with the new appointment. They criticise the general, recalling his defeats in Donbas (common name for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions) in 2014. As a result, local rebels managed to seize large parts of the city.
He was also noted for holding the AFU bridgehead in Krynky. There, on the left bank of the Dnipro River, which was outside Ukraine’s control, experienced AFU marine units suffered heavy losses.
Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) deputy Mariana Bezuhla also criticised Sodol’s appointment after returning from the frontline. She accused the commander of putting his own people in high positions: Yuriy Galushkin, Mykhaylo Sokolov, and Yuriy Lutsenko. The latter once served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Galushkin screwed up the defence of Kharkiv region. Sokolov has criminal proceedings on Chonhar and is now in charge of a section of the front. Lutsenko missed the Ocheretyne breakthrough at Pokrovsk and remains unpunished. No general is punished under either Zaluzhny or Syrskyi. Nothing has changed. General factions continue to ruin our future, and Syrskyi is part of the process.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were not experiencing any difficulties in Kharkiv region.
Today, as every day, our primary focus is on all areas of combat operations – the entire line of defence. There was a report from the Commander-in-Chief – General Syrskyi is just on the front line, right in our combat brigades. The results of these days – just a week – we have stronger positions in Kharkiv region.
