Russian forces approach Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk.
The Russian forces in the Kharkiv region are making steady progress. As per Ukrainian reports, three attack lines are heading towards the city of Vovchansk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the situation in and around the city as "incredibly tough."
Russian troops have moved towards the city of Vovchansk, advancing in their ground offensive in eastern Ukraine. According to the Kharkiv region's chief of police, Volodymyr Tymoshko, the soldiers are near the city and are approaching from various directions. A Russian tank was even spotted on a path leading towards Vovchansk.
From a nearby town, an Associated Press team observed smoke emanating from Vovchansk in the afternoon hours. The city was experiencing intense artillery bombardment. Volunteers worked to carry off the remaining 17,000 residents who had lived in the city before the war, most of them were elderly. Tymoshko revealed that Moscow was employing tactics similar to those used in the skirmishes for Bakhmut and Avdiivka, where heavy air assaults were accompanied by incessant ground attacks. The Kremlin's intention is to obliterate the location entirely.
On the border with Ukraine and Russia, in the area close to Kharkiv, numerous Ukrainian villages are inadequately secured. However, at least one unit of the National Guard, a special division, admitted to withdrawing from the area over the weekend. A video published by the unit on Saturday night declared their fight for the village of Hlyboke.
Zelensky: Mandatory to halt the assault
The Russian Ministry of Defense revealed that they had taken control of four villages along the Kharkiv region's border, in addition to capturing five more villages on Saturday. The Ukrainian government did not initially verify the Russian land conquests. Nonetheless, President Zelensky stressed the importance of thwarting the Russian offensive in the area. He mentioned Ukrainian counterattacks and persisting resistance from his nation's military.
"The success of this endeavor relies on every soldier, every sergeant, and every officer," Zelensky emphasized. He depicted the scenario around Vovchansk as daunting. "Our goal is evident - we need to inflict as much damage as possible on the invading forces."
The US-based research institute Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimated that the Russians captured the towns of Striletscha, Pylna, Pleteniwka, and Boryssiwka over the weekend. Additionally, geolocated film evidence suggests that the Russian forces have conquered Morokhovets and Oliinykove. These Russian triumphs were "tactically valuable."
Analysts stated that the Russian push forward pursued exploiting the Ukrainians' depleting ammunition prior to fresh Western supplies reaching the front line. They could also use this to facilitate an offensive further south.
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The escalating tension in the Kharkiv region continues as Russian forces approach the city of Vovchansk, following their attack on Ukraine. In response to this situation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged a halt to the assault, emphasizing the importance of every soldier in thwarting the Russian offensive.
Source: www.ntv.de
