Russian forces are seeking to establish a continuous zone of control in the Kharkiv region up to 20 kilometers deep along the Ukrainian-Russian border.

Victor Tregubov, Spokesperson for the Joint Forces Grouping, said this in a televised interview, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

“Russian forces have not abandoned their plans to establish a control zone along the entire Ukrainian-Russian border. At least as far as the Kharkiv region is concerned, they are seeking to do so along the entire border,” Tregubov said.

According to him, Russia plans to create a continuous strip of control extending up to 20 kilometers into Ukrainian territory. Russian forces are currently seeking weak points in Ukraine’s defenses and attempting to create breaches in the defensive lines in the Velykyi Burluk and Southern Slobozhanshchyna directions.

“But in practice, we are not talking about 20 kilometers. In some areas, however, they are trying to advance by at least two kilometers,” the spokesperson said.