The intensification of shelling in the Kharkiv region in recent days may be part of preparations for a large-scale offensive by Russian troops.
Source. The Telegraph writes about this with reference to the words of an interlocutor close to the Armed Forces.
Only on Thursday, the Russian Armed Forces launched missile, artillery and mortar strikes on Kharkiv and 15 nearby settlements. It is noted that the targets were both civilian and military objects.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia is preparing a massive shelling of the city and the region this weekend, The Telegraph reports. A ground operation may follow shortly afterward. The newspaper's source names January 15 as a possible start date.
Russian troops are trying to improve their positions along the front line that touches Kupyansk, Svatove and Kreminna, which are close to the border of Kharkiv region, but without much success, The Telegraph notes.
Background. Earlier, ISW wrote that Putin is diverting the West's attention with offers of negotiations to buy time and prepare a new offensive.