Russia has no plans to capture Kharkiv “as of today” and is attacking Kharkiv Oblast in order to create a so-called buffer zone in the oblast to prevent shelling in Belgorod, President Vladimir Putin claimed on May 17. The Kremlin has made similar claims in the past about its intentions, namely when it repeatedly stated in the months, weeks and even days before the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that it had no plans to invade Ukraine. “As for what is happening on the Kharkiv front, this is (Ukrainians’) fault, because they have shelled and continue to shell residential neighborho…