‘Gray Zone’ Expands in Kharkiv Region Amid Rising Fighting with Russian Troops, Governor Says

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration (OVA), Oleh Synegubov, said during a telethon that both the “gray zone” and the number of settlements experiencing fighting with Russian troops have increased in the region.

“The enemy continues its efforts to advance deep into the Kharkiv region,” Synegubov reported.

According to him, Ukrainian forces are striving to maintain their positions.

“There are no significant successes in these territories, but the situation is indeed quite difficult. However, it is fully controlled by our troops,” the governor added.

Currently, the main task is to stabilize the front line, he said.

Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), Oleksandr Syrsky, acknowledged that the situation in the Kharkiv region has significantly worsened this week.

“Currently, there are ongoing battles in the border areas along the state border with Russia,” he said.

Syrsky added that the Defense Forces of Ukraine are doing everything possible to hold defensive lines and positions and to inflict damage on Russian troops.

Data from DeepState maps as of May 12 show that in the Kharkiv region, Russian troops occupied Strilecha, Pylna, Krasne, Borysivka, Ohirtseve, and Pletenivka.

Judging by the map, Russia currently occupies 54.15 square kilometers in the area of Strilecha and Pylna. Additionally, in this area, the “gray zone” covers 28.95 square kilometers.

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Russian troops also seized 34.58 square kilometers in the area of Ohirtseve and Gatyshche, with another 44.94 square kilometers designated as the “gray zone.”

Ukrainian intelligence was aware of Russia’s plans for an offensive in the region

Representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense (HUR), Andriy Yusov, said on the telethon: “The actions of the enemy in this direction began according to the schedule that was known.”

“As befits the Main Directorate of Intelligence, all the necessary authorities and their leadership have been informed,” he added.

Yusov clarified that the special forces of the HUR are participating in the battles in the Kharkiv region.

“The enemy is suffering heavy losses,” Yusov reported.

According to intelligence, the Kremlin deployed soldiers from the Moscow and Leningrad military districts to the Kharkiv region.

Yusov also appealed to the Russian military and urged them to surrender, noting that there have already been such cases.

“Taking into account the scale of the situation with the Russian group, including their losses and future ones, a decision was made to open an additional camp for Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine as soon as possible,” he said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Saturday that Ukrainian troops had been carrying out counterattacks in border villages in the Kharkiv region.

Earlier reports from Russia claimed the capture of five villages in the Kharkiv region—Borysivka, Ohirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna, and Strilecha—alongside one village in Donetsk.

Russia’s defense ministry said Sunday it had captured four more villages in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. The Russian ministry claimed its forces had “advanced deeply into the enemy defenses” and taken villages including Gatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets, and Oliynikove, while Ukrainian officials stated that Ukrainian forces were successfully holding back further Russian advances.