Russia launched a renewed offensive on Kharkiv in May, but local media reported that Kyiv's forces had halted their advance. They now reportedly show signs of escalating operations again.
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Battlefield operations suggest Russia could be escalating military operations in Kharkiv, according to Ukraine’s military.
“The situation in the operational area of the Kharkiv Groups of Forces remains difficult, tense and has signs of escalating,” spokesperson Vitalii Sarantsev said on national television.
Russia had launched a renewed offensive in the northern part of the Kharkiv region in May, but local media report that the push had ran out of steam as Kyiv’s forces halted their advance.
However, Sarantsev has now said Russia forces have been observed conducting internal rotations and increasing their presence in border areas.
He also said there has been an increase in sabotage and intelligence gathering operations.
This was reinforced by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy in July, who had said that Moscow had been concentrating its effort in the east and “throwing everything they have."
The Ukrainian military has acknowledged an increasingly difficult situation as Russian troops make steady progress westward.
Despite the renewed Russian ground offensive, Ukraine continues to strike into Russian territory.
Russia claimed on Friday that missiles and drones had targeted occupied Crimea overnight, amid reports of explosions in various locations on the peninsula.
Residents reported hearing blasts in Sevastopol, Simferopol and Yevpatoria in the occupied peninsula, according to the Telegram channel Crimean Wind.
Ukraine has not commented on the claims, which have not been independently verified.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russia-installed head of Sevastopol, claimed at least four Ukrainian air targets had been downed and fragments of the drones had been found in the city.
No casualties were reported.