From ‘here for good’ to 'an operation to curtail'

A brief timeline of statements from Russian officials in the leadup to Ukraine’s Kharkiv counteroffensive

United Russia Central Executive Committee head Alexander Sidyakin

June 18, 2022; 76 days before Russia’s retreat

Soon, we will begin issuing passports. Russia is here for good!

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“War correspondent” Semyon Pegov, founder of the Telegram channel WarGonzo (referring to a visit by Kremlin First Deputy Chief of Staff Sergey Kiriyenko to Ukraine’s Kharkiv region)

June 30, 2022; 64 days before Russia’s retreat

We view the liberated territories as part of our empire and part of our state. With all that that implies. [...] Another region of Ukraine is falling into Russia’s domestic policy orbit.

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United Russia General Council Secretary Andrey Turchak

July 6, 2022; 58 days before Russia’s retreat

Russia is getting closer and closer; I would even venture to say that it’s obvious that Russia will be here forever. Russia isn’t going anywhere.

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Vitaly Ganchev, the Russian-installed head of the occupation administration in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region

July 27, 2022; 37 days before Russia’s retreat

It’s not that these rumors [of a counteroffensive] are not true; there is a grain of truth to the idea of an attempted offensive, but they truly are being given tasks that are unfeasible for the Ukrainian armed forces. It’s more likely that these are orders of a populist nature, intended to show their non-existent victories. [...] But these kinds of counteroffensives lead to major losses on the Ukrainian side.

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Russian Defense Ministry

September 10, 2022, four days after the start of Russia’s retreat

Over the course of three days, an operation to curtail and organize the transfer of troops from the Izyum-Balakliya direction to the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic was carried out.