Fighting intensifies in Kharkov, Russian troops announce entry into Vovtyansk

Russia claims its troops have entered the northeastern border town of Bovchansk, near Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Ukraine has announced that heavy fighting continues.

Russia has stepped up its offensive in the region following Friday’s surprise cross-border invasion, capturing at least nine villages and settlements in one of the most massive ground offensives since the all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. did.

Thousands of civilians have fled towards Kharkov, and Ukrainian military commanders are concerned about what will happen if Russian forces come within range of Kharkov’s artillery.

Ukraine’s military said Russia had committed “substantial forces” (up to five battalions) to the recent offensive, which it acknowledged was a “tactical success.”

But the military said in a statement that Russia had lost more than 100 troops in a single day, adding that it was taking steps to repel the advancing troops.

Bovchansk, located 74 kilometers (45 miles) from Kharkiv, has been heavily bombed in recent days, and officials in the surrounding region say Moscow is targeting the settlement with glide bombs. .

Kharkiv region chief Ole Sinyevov said Russia was deliberately trying to expand its front by attacking in small groups in new directions.

He told local television that Ukrainian forces were holding off Russian forces, but warned that fighting could spread to new settlements, according to Reuters.

Nearly 6,000 people have been evacuated in the area, he said, adding that 30 villages had been hit with mortar and artillery fire.

Although it is still considered unlikely that this Russian cross-border invasion will take Kharkov, their gradual approach to this new northeastern front will increase the anxiety of the people living there. Only.

Kostyantyn Timchenko, a resident of Vovchansk, was among those who left the city for the relative safety of Kharkov and said he was shocked by how close the fighting was.

“There is already fighting with automatic weapons 500 meters away,” he said.

“on the one hand [of the Vovcha River] teeth [Russians]on the other hand is ours.

“Tanks were constantly coming towards us, shooting back and then leaving. I thought we would be okay, but I was shocked. I wish I had known beforehand.”

Two people were also killed in shelling in Donetsk, a Russian-controlled city in eastern Ukraine far from Kharkiv, the Russian-installed mayor claimed. Ukraine has not commented on the incident.

Russia also announced that it had shot down 31 Ukrainian drones over several areas of annexed Crimea.

This comes after Russian authorities said at least 15 people were killed when debris from a missile shot down by Ukrainian forces fell on some apartment buildings in the Russian border city of Belgorod.

Ukrainian security sources said Ukrainian forces attacked oil terminals and electrical substations in western Russia.