Kyiv (agencies)
Ukrainian Army Commander Oleksandr Sersky announced yesterday that his country’s forces are facing a difficult situation in the ongoing fighting in the Kharkiv region, but he stressed that the soldiers are doing their best to hold on.
Russia launched a new attack on the Kharkiv region in northern Ukraine last Friday, which opens a new battle front in the battles that have been ongoing for about 27 months. Moscow said yesterday that it had taken control of five villages, while Kiev said it was repelling attacks and fighting to maintain control over those villages.
Sersky wrote on Telegram: “The defense forces units are engaged in fierce defensive battles. Attempts by the Russian forces to penetrate our defenses have been repelled,” adding, “The situation is difficult, but the Ukrainian defense forces are doing everything in their power to hold out on the defense lines and positions.”
Kiev says that a delay of several months by the US Congress in voting on a huge aid package cost it dearly on the battlefields. Ukraine is now hoping for the rapid arrival of large amounts of recently approved aid to support its defences.
Army spokesman Nazar Voloshin told Ukrainian television yesterday, “Russian forces are carrying out operations on two fronts. They are trying to expand the scope of the front.” He added that the main directions of the Russian attack target the cities of Vovchansk and Liptse.
Liptsi is about 20 kilometers from the outskirts of Kharkiv, the second largest Ukrainian city.
In 2022, Russian forces reached the outskirts of the city before being repelled and pushed back to the border. Voloshin urged residents to remain calm, saying, “The defense forces are standing on the lines and the situation is under control.” Yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces were carrying out counterattacks in the border villages in the Kharkiv region, saying: “We must disrupt Russian offensive operations and return the initiative to Ukraine.”
He added, “All air defense systems and anti-missile systems are important to save lives.” He continued, “It is important that our partners support our soldiers and Ukraine’s resilience through truly timely deliveries.”
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities evacuated thousands of residents of the Kharkiv region to safe areas in light of the current Russian offensive operations there. About four thousand people had already left the region in the past two days, according to the region’s governor, Oleg Sinigubov, on social media platforms. A total of 4,073 people were evacuated, and he said: Many of them were able to stay with friends and relatives, while housing was provided for others.
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