The Russians were going to partially encircle Kharkiv and put pressure on Ukrainian troops east of the Pechenihy reservoir. They were supposed to carry out this operation on 15-16 May, but for some unknown reason, they postponed it for almost a week, The Economist writes, citing military plans they had obtained.
According to the magazine, the invaders identified two lines of attack on both sides of the reservoir. The offensive in the west was supposed to ensure the withdrawal of Russian troops within 72 hours to the artillery strike radius of Kharkiv near the village of Borshchova.
However, the Russian military's plans were thwarted by the 92nd Brigade, which was quickly redeployed there.
"They were stopped by a rapidly redeployed group of the elite 92nd Brigade, which threw them as much as 10 km away from their original target," the journalists reported.
In the east, in the Vovchansk sector, the Russians planned to fight at a water reservoir up to the village of Pechenyhy. The Russians quickly succeeded and cleared the area that was supposed to be mined.