A Russian official stated on Monday that intense fighting is ongoing in the northeastern Kharkiv region of Ukraine. Moscow has been trying to capture this area, and Ukraine’s military is sending more troops and equipment to defend it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces are gradually pushing Russian troops out of the contested Kharkiv region. Ukraine’s top military commander predicted that Russia would try to advance before Ukraine receives sophisticated Western equipment, such as U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets.
Last month, Russian forces crossed into parts of the Kharkiv region and have taken control of around a dozen villages. Vitaly Ganchev, the Russia-appointed governor of the occupied areas, mentioned that Russian forces are repelling Ukraine’s counter-attacks near Vovchansk, a town five kilometers (three miles) inside the border.
Ganchev reported that the fiercest clashes are happening in Vovchansk and near Lyptsy. He stated that Ukrainian forces are sending in reinforcements and attempting counter-attacks, but Russian forces are responding fiercely.
Russian President Vladimir Putin explained that this incursion aims to create a “buffer zone” to prevent Ukraine from shelling border areas, including Russia’s Belgorod region, which is opposite Kharkiv.
Ukrainian officials have said over the past week that the Russian advance is under control. In his nightly video address, President Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian troops are slowly pushing the occupiers out of the Kharkiv region. The military’s General Staff reported that they repelled ten Russian attacks near Vovchansk and Lyptsi.
Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksander Syrskyi, mentioned on Telegram that Russian commanders are increasing the intensity and expanding the areas of military activity. He noted that the gradual arrival of Western weapons and equipment, including the first F-16s, strengthens Ukraine’s air defenses. He believes time is on Ukraine’s side, and Russia’s chances of success will decrease.
Ukrainian military bloggers have reported that Kyiv’s forces are maintaining their positions around Vovchansk and attempting to break through Russian lines to consolidate their units around the town.
Russian forces captured much of the Kharkiv region in the early weeks of their invasion in February 2022. However, Ukraine regained large parts of this territory later that year. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, located 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border, remained out of Russian control. Ukrainian officials say that months of Russian attacks have decreased thanks to the arrival of new weaponry.
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