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In the early hours of May 10, 2024, the Russian army finally launched a large-scale thunderous attack in the two vital strategic points of Donbas and Kharkiv, after a long plan.
This move not only kicked off a magnificent prelude to Putin's fifth presidential term, but also revealed his far-sighted thinking about his upcoming visit to China.
In Kharkiv, especially in the Volchansk region, which is close to Russia, fighting has forced more than 3,000 innocent civilians to flee their homes.
According to "Ukrainska Pravda", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received an urgent report from the commander-in-chief at the beginning of the war, and learned that the front line in Donbass and Kharkiv Oblast was already full of gunsmoke and fierce fighting.
At the same time, Kirby, the Kirby coordinator of the US National Security Council, also solemnly pointed out at the press conference that the Russian army's offensive in the Donbas region has begun to show its edge, and expressed dissatisfaction with the US Congress's procrastination in budget allocation, believing that this delay has seriously affected Ukraine's strategic initiative.
On the battlefield in the north, under the wise leadership of General Lapin, the Russian army's northern theater of operations had completed the assembly of 50,000 elite troops on the night of May 9.
They launched an all-out offensive on a number of key points on the border between Belgorod and Kharkiv Oblast, such as Volchansk, Khoptivka, Krasne, and other places, and the battle line was staggeringly long, reaching an astonishing 400 kilometers.
Before the infantry and armoured units officially launched the charge, the Russian army had already used artillery, tactical missiles and drones to prepare for heavy artillery fire in Kharkiv and its northern Sumy region for more than a day.
In fact, Kyiv has been issuing frequent warnings since March that the Russian army may launch a large-scale offensive against Kharkiv in late spring or early summer.
They even began to build strong fortifications in the northern part of the region, such as digging anti-tank and anti-infantry trenches, in case of a possible crisis.
However, although NATO observed the abnormal build-up of Russian troops on the Belgorod and Kursk borders at the end of April, the lack of timely intelligence has led to a serious shortage of Ukrainian military and firepower on the ground, making it difficult to build an effective defensive line.
The strategic position of the northern front is particularly important in the defense of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, and its security situation directly affects the strategic layout of the entire region.
Kharkiv is less than 40 kilometers away from Russia, and it is not only rich in heavy industrial resources, but also a focus of contention between Russia and Ukraine because of its strategic location.
Historically, the fierce battles surrounding Kharkiv during World War II have fully demonstrated its military importance.
Today, its extensive transportation network has made it a military fortress on the Eastern European Plain.
From the latest battle report, it is not difficult to see the dual intentions revealed by the Russian army in the offensive strategy of Kharkiv and the Donbas region.
The war in Kharkiv appears to be more like a well-planned diversionary war aimed at distracting Ukraine and NATO's military presence in the Donbas.
At the same time, the tactical victory of the Russian army in the Donbas region, such as Avdeyevka, further shows that Russia's main military objectives are still tightly locked in the Donbass.
Such a tactical layout undoubtedly puts Ukraine and NATO in a dilemma: if Kharkiv is rescued, it may lead to the weakening of the defenses on the Donbas front; Abandoning Kharkov would mean heavy strategic losses.
This strategic dilemma leads to an ironic reality: while Ukraine and NATO may not be completely inferior in terms of numbers, they are clearly in a dilemma when it comes to strategic choices.
The military operation in Kharkiv is not only a severe test of the military strength and tactics of Russia and Ukraine, but also a great challenge to the political wisdom and strategic decision-making capabilities of both sides.
In this seemingly unsolvable military and political dilemma, the fate of Kharkiv and Donbas seems to be pawns in an intricate chess game, and their direction is bound to have a profound and significant impact on the security landscape of the whole of Eastern Europe.
Against this complex backdrop, we can't help but think deeply about how the complexity of geopolitics and the delicate balance of international relations have shown their unique "artistic" charm in this fierce conflict.