President Vladimir Putin said Russia, which has made rapid military advances in northeast Ukraine, has no plans to capture the embattled city of Kharkiv "as of today," according to a report.
Putin said troops are attacking the Ukrainian city to create a buffer zone in the region, claiming the barrier is needed to prevent Ukrainian forces from shelling the Russian city of Belgorod, the Kyiv Independent reported.
"As for what is happening on the Kharkiv front, this is (Ukrainians') fault, because they have shelled and continue to shell residential neighborhoods in border areas including Belgorod," the Russian leader said Friday while on a trip to China. "And I said publicly that if this continues, we will be forced to create a security zone."
Asked about Moscow's intention to capture Kharkiv, Putin said, "There are no such plans as of today."
Ukraine's top commander warned of "heavy battles" ahead in northeast Ukraine as Russia has advanced about six miles since stepping up attacks last week in the region where Russian troops far outnumber Ukrainian forces, Reuters reported.
"We understand there will be heavy battles and that the enemy is preparing for that," Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a statement.
The Kyiv Independent pointed out that military officials said that Russia often uses Belgorod to launch missile attacks across the border on Ukraine.
