Russian troops are trying to seize the heights north of Kharkiv, which will allow them to fire at logistical routes on the outskirts of the city, the commander of the battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine said.
The armed forces of the Russian Federation are storming the village of Liptsi in the Kharkiv region, using infantry and mass bombardment with guided aerial bombs. At the same time, the Ukrainian military held off the enemy's offensive and even tried to counterattack. Oleksandr Bukatar ("White"), the commander of the 3rd operational assignment battalion of the "Spartan" brigade of the National Guard, spoke about the situation at the front and potential threats to Kharkiv on May 29. 
Bukatar noted that Ukrainian forces managed to stop the advance of Russian troops on Kharkiv and launch counterattacks. He explained that this was achieved due to regrouping and the arrival of experienced brigades, such as his brigade, which previously operated in the Zaporizhzhia region. The topography of the area also played an important role in maintaining positions in Liptsi, which are key for the defense of Kharkiv.
In the Kharkiv region, the specifics of the terrain, in particular the highlands north of Liptsi and the green plantations, help the fighters to hold the defense and advance, noted "Bily" from "Spartan".
"There is a big difference in altitude here, which was not the case in the Zaporozhye direction, where we operated before. There have not been any strong hostilities here yet, so there are landings. This presents both advantages and difficulties. In front of Lyptsy there is a commanding height, which we hold. It allows shelling of occupied settlements," Bukatar said.
The commanding heights near Liptsi are strategically important, the battalion commander noted. If the Russians capture these heights, they will be able to reach the outskirts of Kharkiv, located 20 km away, with artillery fire. This will allow the enemy to shell Northern Saltiv and the ring road through which logistics passes, taking this area under fire control.
"If our goal is to protect Kharkiv, then the settlement of Liptsi is extremely important, since they are within the range of artillery fire. This would enable multiple rocket launchers to fire at the whole of Kharkiv," he said.
According to the battalion commander, the Russian troops are advancing on Lypka mainly on foot, while massively shelling the positions of the Defense Forces with guided aerial bombs (CABs). For example, during the day, 20 such bombs were dropped on the positions of his unit by the aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces.
It is worth noting that the online map of the hostilities shows that the last changes to the line of contact near Liptsi took place on May 18-19: then the Russian Armed Forces advanced by 2 km. Since that time, as of May 29, no further advance of the enemy has been recorded.
On May 26, on the air of the telethon, the spokesman of the United Forces of the "Khortytsia" troop group announced that Russian troops were "stuck on the road" to Liptsi. He also noted that it was possible to stop the threat of a breakthrough in the "Strilecha-Hlyboke" area and begin to dislodge the enemy from previously occupied positions.
