Russia has lost the battle for Kharkiv.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which produces daily reports about the Russian occupation of Ukraine, says Moscow forces have withdrawn from the northeastern Ukrainian city.
The ISW adds that the Russian military has withdrawn from the region as Vladimir Putin is now trying to control the southern part of the country.
“The Russian military is likely to have completely withdrawn from its positions around the city of Kharkiv as it is unable to withstand Ukrainian counterattacks,” the report said.
Russian units have generally not tried to hold ground against Ukrainian counterattack forces over the past few days, with a few exceptions.
It is already being reported that some of the first residents have returned to their homes in the Kharkiv region.
Otherwise, the report notes that a Ukrainian offensive in the east of the country is unlikely to occur due to the difficulty of a military operation between large water areas.