Ukrainians withdraw from isolated posts on the Kharkiv front line.
The Russian military advance in the northeast of Ukraine has forced defenders to retreat in certain areas. The army high command aims to safeguard the lives of its troops. President Zelenskyj, who initially intended to travel abroad, cancels his travel plans.
In response to the recent Russian offensive in the eastern Ukrainian area of Kharkiv, Ukrainian forces have reportedly withdrawn soldiers from specific posts. According to a statement from the Ukrainian General Staff overnight, "Due to combat and enemy offense actions, our troops performed a maneuver in specific areas of Lukyantsi and Vovchansk and shifted to more favorable positions to shield our soldiers from harm and minimize casualties." However, the statement on Facebook further clarified, "The fighting continues."
Russia commenced a new offensive on Kharkiv in the border area last week. Consequently, Russian forces also claimed control over multiple Ukrainian villages. For Ukraine, currently facing a challenging situation due to faltering Western aid, it is crucial to prevent the frontline from expanding.
Russia reported the acquisition of an additional village in the region on Tuesday. The city of Kharkiv, which is located around 30 kilometers from the Russian border, has experienced intensified shelling in recent months. battles raged on for the localities of Lukyanzi and Vovchansk both approximately 30 kilometers apart and bordering Russia.
CPO: Russian soldiers enter Vovchansk
The defenders in Vovchansk claim to be experiencing increasing pressure. "The situation is extremely precarious," stated local police chief Olexiy Kharkivskyi on Facebook. Russian forces have positioned themselves in Vovchansk's streets. The conflict is heated. The Ukrainian General Staff also pointed out that the situation in the region remained "arduous". However, the military "won't concede ground to Russian invaders". Kiev dispatched additional reinforcements to the region to prevent a Russian breakthrough.
In light of the newly initiated Russian offensive by the invasion forces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opted against traveling to Spain on Friday, while his trip to Portugal was also scrapped. Portuguese media and CNN and CNN Portugal reported that frontline issues were the cause for the cancellations. A Portuguese government spokesperson declined to provide reasons. The Spanish government stated that they couldn't comment on the matter due to security concerns. Zelensky was set to sign a bilateral security agreement with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid during his visit and also had a scheduled meeting with King Felipe.
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Source: www.ntv.de
