In a recent interview with the AFP news agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautioned that Russia's offensive in the northeastern border region of Kharkiv could be just the beginning of a broader assault. Zelenskyy has appealed to allies for increased air defence and fighter jet assistance amid concerns over Ukraine's limited capabilities in this regard.

Russian forces launched a surprise attack in the Kharkiv region on May 10, resulting in significant territorial gains - their most substantial in the past 18 months. Although Ukrainian forces were able to halt the advance after a 5 to 10km (3-6 miles) incursion, Zelenskyy admitted that the country is currently operating with only a quarter of the required air defences to hold the front line effectively.

Following the ground attack by Russian troops, a total of 9,907 individuals have been evacuated from the Kharkiv region, according to reports from Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synegubov. The situation on the ground has put Ukraine under immense pressure, with reports suggesting that they are outmanned in terms of soldiers even before the recent Russian assaults. Al Jazeera's John Holman highlighted Ukraine's concern, stating that there were seven Russian soldiers for every Ukrainian soldier, further straining the country's military resources.

To bolster their troop numbers, Zelenskyy enacted two laws: one aimed at allowing prisoners to join the army and another that significantly increases fines for draft dodgers. These measures took effect on Saturday. It is worth noting that Ukraine's mobilisation age remains relatively high at 25, while Russia's is 18. The Ukrainian government is hesitant to call up younger men in order to avoid depleting its already limited numbers further. The new legislation is therefore aimed at addressing the current dearth of soldiers in Ukraine's army.

Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for additional air power to achieve at least a level of parity with Russia. He stated that Ukraine would require around 120 to 130 F-16 fighter jets or similar advanced aircraft to defend its airspace adequately. Zelenskyy revealed that currently, Ukraine only possesses approximately 25 percent of the necessary air defence capabilities to deter Russian aggression.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, while on a visit to China, stated that the offensive in the Kharkiv region aims to establish a buffer zone and affirmed that there are no plans to capture the city of Kharkiv. Putin linked the recent attacks to Ukrainian shelling in Russia's neighboring Belgorod region, asserting that Russia was merely creating a security and sanitary zone in response.

Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskii, stated that Russia's latest offensive has expanded the active combat zone by almost 70km (45 miles). The goal appears to be to force Ukraine to spread its forces and tap into reserve troops. In response, Ukraine launched a counterstrike and deployed drones to target Russian-occupied territory in Crimea. Ukrainian intelligence officials confirmed that they struck Russia's military infrastructure sites in Novorossiysk and Sevastopol using Ukraine-built drones.

In retaliation, Russia's Ministry of Defence reported shooting down 51 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, 44 over the Krasnodar region, and six over the Belgorod region. Russian warplanes and patrol boats also destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea. The governor of Sevastopol confirmed that the drone attack damaged the city's power plant, further escalating the tension between the two nations.

As the conflict intensifies, Ukraine's call for additional air defence support reflects the urgency of the situation. It remains to be seen how international allies will respond to this appeal and whether it will bring about the reinforcement Ukraine desperately needs to protect its borders.