Russia Opens New Cross-Border Offensive Toward Kharkiv

Russian forces crossed from Belgorod Oblast into Kharkiv Oblast, capturing dozens of villages in the Vovchansk area and opening a new front. Ukraine scrambled reserves to stabilize the line. The offensive prompted intense debate in Washington about whether to allow Ukraine to strike targets inside Russian territory with US-supplied weapons. The front was largely stabilized by late May, but Russia established a new threat axis to Ukraine's second city.