The smoke rising from the ground in a fuel storage facility at a military base still feels fresh even after a week of Russian missiles striking a forward Ukrainian military base in the Kharkiv region bordering Donbas where a fierce battle is raging.

The fuel dump bore the brunt of the air raid; adjacent, military vehicles are charred as a part of the base has turned to rubble.Luckily, for the troops, the barracks are safe but they often take shelter in the bunkers as the shelling is relentless.

The otherwise calm in the scantily populated streets is often shattered by the frequent loud bombardment.

Damaged homes in the Kharkiv-Donbas border regions. (Photo: India Today)

The war in Ukraine has entered its third month, Russians have retreated from several parts, including those on the outskirts of Kyiv, but a never-ending battle is raging in eastern Ukraine.

Russian forces are still not in complete control of the Donbas region that they announced as a liberated zone.

Donbas-Kharkiv border: Battle intensifies between Russia & Ukraine.
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STATUS OF DONBAS

Kharkiv, which borders both Donetsk and Luhansk that form the Donbas region, is critical for both Ukraine and Russia.

As Russia looks to take control of the entire Donbas region to announce a military achievement ahead of the May 9 Victory Day that is celebrated for Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, the fighting has intensified here.

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After having to retreat, the Russian forces have been focusing on taking occupation of places in the south and east, looking at creating a land corridor from Crimea, south of Ukraine that Moscow annexed in 2014 to the Donbas region in the east. This will ensure an alternate supply line from the south to the east if Russia intends to be in physical occupation.

Empty streets and damaged homes in the Kharkiv-Donbas border regions. (Photo: India Today)

“They are focusing their firepower in the east and south of Ukraine. With the heaviest and most intense fighting taking place in those parts, the rest of Ukraine is also at risk of missile strikes. Can’t say Russians are in complete occupation of the Donbas region. We have some losses but there have also been some gains,” Yuriy Sak, adviser to the defence minister of Ukraine, told India Today TV.

He claims the Russians have lost more than 22,000 soldiers till now.

Advisor to the Ukraine defence minister Yuriy Sak tells me they still need long range artillery guns, tanks, air defence systems to take on the Russian onslaught. Says grateful to international partners but also disappointed with delays in extending help https://t.co/yRvxQ2xosK

— Abhishek Bhalla (@AbhishekBhalla7) April 26, 2022

“The original plan that Russia had was to conquer Ukraine in three days. In the third month of the war, Ukraine is still standing, and Russian losses are staggering. They have lost more than 22,000 people. This is colossal if you compare it with losses of Russian forces in other armed conflicts during the last decade,” he said.

With the Donbas region still not in complete control of the Russians, the intensity here is peaking ahead of the big May 9 Victory Day celebrations.

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RUSSIA’S ATTEMPTS TO CUT SUPPLY LINES FROM KHARKIV TO DONBAS

It’s the supply line from Kharkiv region that has ensured the Ukrainian military holds on to their positions in Donbas.

This is the reason the Russian assault continues even on Kharkiv in order to ensure Donbas is completely cut off from Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces mobilising and tank movement on the streets are a common sight. Small towns resemble a military garrison with a few civilians. Most homes are without residents and people have left to safer havens.

Empty streets and damaged homes in the Kharkiv-Donbas border regions. (Photo: India Today)

“Russian forces are trying to encircle us. We are dodging them and want to keep them guessing,” says a military commander.

Barvinkove, a small town in the Izium region of Kharkiv close to Donbas, is a ghost town. No civilians are seen here, and trucks full of soldiers waving to or showing the V sign is a common sight.

The region is the gateway to the Donbas region and critical for both the Ukrainians to defend the areas and the Russians to take full control if they want to announce a big win ahead of the Victory Day parade.

CHANGING TACTICS

Ukraine’s youngest MP Sviatoslav Yurash — who joined the army himself as a volunteer — has been carrying out aid work here, sending food and ration to the army.

“The reality is after Kyiv Russian changed strategy, cut off Donbas. But they have had to push back. Donbas still has places where Ukraine forces are strong. Russian are trying to cut supply lines but are failing badly,” Yurash said.

Russian forces trying to cut supply lines to Donbas by making advances: Sviatoslav Yurash, Ukraine’s youngest MP #ReporterDiary #RussiaUkraineWar | (@AbhishekBhalla7) pic.twitter.com/iM2GHMoT5X

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 1, 2022

While key towns of Mariupol and Zaporizhia are under Russian control, Ukrainian forces are still holding on to the Azovstal Steel plant in Mariupol. For Russia to have a corridor from Crimea to Kharkiv, controlling these cities is critical.

As the pitched battle continues, there are no signs of peace. In fact, the eastern part of Ukraine stares at an uncertain future of being a permanent conflict zone.

Sviatoslav Yurash, Ukraine’s youngest MP and a volunteer soldier, distributes food and medicine at the frontline. (Photo: India Today)

With Ukraine getting more weapons, it is readying itself for a long haul, changing tactics from defensive to at times surprising the enemy with an offensive posture. Using drones to destroy Russian patrol boats in the Black Sea to hitting military convoys, Ukrainians have given a glimpse of how they intend to fight this war that is likely to continue.

The land corridor from the south of Ukraine to the east connecting Crimea to Donbas could still be a long wait for Russia.

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