In and around Kharkiv, the daily fear of a Russian assault

In Merefa, a southern suburb of Kharkiv, Ukraine.

© RFI / Marie Normand

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Russian forces continue to refocus on eastern Ukraine.

This is particularly the case in Kharkiv, the second city of the country where the bombardments are increasing.

The city is therefore preparing for a possible assault after a night of April 12 to 13 again agitated.

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With our special correspondents in Kharkiv

,

The shelling may have been a little less intense than 24 hours ago, but closer to the center of Kharkiv.

However, there had been a lull for a few hours that night, then the sirens went off again around 4 a.m., followed by very close explosions for about twenty minutes.

Second largest city in the country

The pressure is therefore maintained on Kharkiv which is

and which is preparing for a Russian assault by strengthening its defenses.

On Tuesday, more checkpoints were visible at the entrance to the city, concrete blocks were put across the roads to slow down vehicles and anti-tank barriers were installed to try to stop a possible advance by Russian forces.

But for the moment,

There have been no recent developments and the front remains a handful of kilometers north and east of Kharkiv, just behind the ring road.

Encirclement?

In the south, the small crown has also been hit by missiles in the past 48 hours.

These towns are guarding the entrance to Kharkiv from the south and if they fell it would allow the Russian army to surround the town and cut off possible reinforcements to Donbass, the far east of Ukraine where Russian troops are amassed in the past 24 hours and which Vladimir Putin has said he wants to make it his priority.

Report from Merefa, in the southern suburbs of Kharkiv, where the shelling caused heavy damage

Mary Normand

► To read also: War in Ukraine: in Kharkiv, volunteers deliver meals in dangerous areas

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• Ukraine

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• Vladimir Poutine

• Volodymyr Zelensky