After the expulsion of the Ukrainian troops from Kursk, the Russian region they had occupied for many months, everything left by the Russian force of 50,000 men is opposite the border with the border with the Kharkovnotes Sky News.

A major advance of Russian troops along the whole or part of the front line has been expected for some time, but it has not yet been fully implemented, analysts say.

Believed that the Russia It has a “four -month window” to break down the Ukrainian forces before the weather begins to change and the reserves of Soviet armor begins to run out.

Where have the Russian troops gathered – and are located among them select soldiers?

Russian troops have gathered on the other side of the border near Kharkov in northeast Ukraineaccording to a senior Ukrainian army official.

“The enemy is trying to bring his strength closer to the contact line and carry out some offensive operations,” said Andriy Pomahaibus, head of the 13th Operational Brigade this week. “In general, they do not succeed.” However, he added that there is “clear preparation for aggressive operations by the enemy”.

Sky News military analyst Michael Clark said the gathering of troops followed by the Russian operation to expel Ukrainians from the Kursk area, which is not far from Kharkov.

“Now that the Kursk got back, the question is: will they continue?” The analyst asked.

Some of Russia’s most experienced soldiers moved to reinforce the Kursk campaign and could still be in the area.

Clark also noted: “If they have left these units there, it means that they want them to attack elsewhere.” “If these units return around Pokrovsk (in Donetsk), it would mean that they would not organize a major strategic attack near Harkovo,” he added.

Is Russia preparing an attack on Kharkov?

Clark stressed that Russia is likely to prepare for a major attack near the cities of Harcov and Sumi.

This could include a direct attack on one of the cities – a difficult venture given how well they have been fortified – or an attempt to occupy a large part of the surrounding area that Ukraine liberated in the fall of 2022.

Kharkov, just 20 miles from the border with Russia, is Ukraine’s second largest city with a population of over a million before 2022.

It is considered a “fortress” and was awarded the “heroic city of Ukraine” for its resistance during the first months of the Russian invasion in 2022.

However, Clark does not believe that Russia has the resources for a major attack on Kharkov or Sumi this summer, as the Kremlin has preferred to try to attack large parts of the front.

“I think the Russians essentially used the forces that could otherwise have used for a strategic attack,” he said.

This, he noted, forced Ukraine to exhaust its stocks to deal with Russian attacks. “Both sides have sacrificed the possibility of a strategic attack on this ongoing battle of wear and tear,” he added.

‘Window of four months’

Dr. Jack Watling, a military expert at Think Tank Rusi, argues that Russia will probably launch its “mild” attack rather than fast maneuvers of large motorized units. “The Russians do not have the quality of the forces to function in this way,” he added.

On the contrary, the summer attack will have a “steady increase in the number and scale of attacks in an exiled area,” he said. Indeed, there is evidence that this design has already begun. “

Clark said that Russia has a “four -month window”. “I think they know that this is the last year of growth before their forces are exhausted,” he said, referring to Russia’s problems with the production of battle tanks.

So far, Russia has been using the huge reserves of vehicles left over from the Soviet era, while only 25% comes from new production.

Dr. Watling agrees: “Russian reserves of old Soviet equipment, from tanks and infantry vehicles to guns, will be exhausted to mid -autumn and Russia’s ability to replace the losses will depend entirely on what it can produce.”

This, he added, makes the prospect of new sanctions from Europe and possibly America particularly timely.