Zelensky vows to quash new Russian offensive in Ukraine's Kharkiv region

Ukraine vowed on May 10 to quash a surprise Russian ground offensive, after troops launched a major cross-border assault in the Kharkiv region, looking to chalk up fresh battlefield gains with Ukraine on the back foot. 

Russian forces made small advances in the border zone it was pushed back from nearly two years ago. President Volodymyr Zelensky said a "fierce battle" was underway for control of the area, France24 reports.

Civilians were told to flee and heavy fighting was reported as Ukraine's outgunned army rushed in reinforcements to defend the region, which has been mostly under Ukrainian control since September 2022.

"Russia launched a new wave of counter-offensive actions in this area. Ukraine met them there with our troops, brigades and artillery ... Now there is a fierce battle under way," Zelensky told a press conference in Kyiv.

In a later social media post after meeting his commander-in-chief, Zelensky reported "heavy battles along the entire front line" and promised a forceful response.

"Along our state border and along our front line, we will invariably destroy the occupier in such a way as to thwart any Russian offensive intentions," Zelensky said.

Russia has remained silent on the assault, which would be its largest land operation in that part of the battlefield since it sent thousands of troops across the border in February 2022.

A senior Ukrainian military source said Russia had advanced one kilometre (0.6 miles) into Ukraine and was trying to "create a buffer zone" in the Kharkiv and neighbouring Sumy regions to prevent attacks on Russian territory.

Officials in Kyiv had warned for weeks that Moscow might try to attack its northeastern border regions, pressing its advantage as Ukraine struggles with delays in Western aid and manpower shortages.

Washington announced a new $400 million military aid package for Kyiv hours after the offensive began, and said it was confident Ukraine could repel any fresh Russian campaign.

"It is possible that Russia will make further advances in the coming weeks, but we do not anticipate any major breakthroughs, and over time, the influx of US assistance will enable Ukraine to withstand these attacks over the course of 2024," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

"Russia will likely increase the intensity of fire and commit additional troops in an attempt to establish a shallow buffer zone along the Ukrainian border," he said.

"We are confident in the Ukrainian (forces) and we are working around the clock to get them the equipment, the tools, the weapons that they need to defend against these attacks," he said.