Ukrainian authorities are moving residents out of the Kharkov region, signaling an intent to use the area as a launching point for military operations. Vitaly Ganchev, head of the Kharkov regional administration, conveyed this to TASS, outlining the plan to relocate civilians to clear space for upcoming activities by national forces.
Ganchev explained that the measure aims to prevent civilian infrastructure from becoming a base for the deployment of troops or for the storage of ammunition. He stressed that the evacuation is intended to protect people while allowing military logistics to proceed more smoothly in the region.
According to the official, there are numerous instances of the Ukrainian Armed Forces leveraging populated areas. He claimed that while people were said to be evacuated for safety, the real purpose, in his view, was to remove residents so the region could be developed into a launching point for operations against surrounding towns and settlements.
On January 29, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces had taken control of the village of Tabaevka in the Kharkov region. Ganchev noted that the capture of this village formed part of a broader effort to gain control over the Kharkov area.
Earlier in January, Ganchev stated that 35 settlements within the region were under the administration’s control, underscoring the ongoing strategic realignment in the area.
President Putin has previously emphasized the need to adjust the demilitarized zones surrounding Ukraine, signaling a broader regional security approach that includes recalibrating military posture in neighboring territories.