Ukraine made rapid gains in a surprise counter-operation in the northeastern Kharkiv region, where it deeply bypassed Russian lines.
Ukrainian officials released pictures on Saturday showing soldiers waving the country’s flag in the town, which is a hub for the main railways used to deliver supplies to Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine, where a collapse in Russia’s front threatens to turn into defeat.
With Ukrainians now arriving in the city of Kobyansk, where railways connecting Russia and eastern Ukraine converge, advances along the main Moscow Logistics Corridor have increased, potentially trapping thousands of Russian troops.
Natalia Popova, an advisor to the head of the Kharkiv Municipal Council, shared photos on Facebook of soldiers waving the Ukrainian flag in front of the Kobyansk city council. A Russian flag appeared at their feet. “Kobiansk is Ukrainian. Glory to the Ukrainian armed forces,” she captioned the photos.
In Hrakov, one of dozens of villages retaken, Reuters journalists saw burnt-out cars bearing the symbol of Russia’s Operation Z, and piles of rubbish and ammunition in positions the Russians hastily abandoned.
The walls carried spray-painted messages, including “Hello everyone, we are from Russia.”
There were also 3 bodies in white body bags in a courtyard.
The local police chief, Volodymyr Tymoshenko, said Ukrainian police had taken action the day before, checking the identities of local residents.
“The first task is to provide the help they need. The next task is to document the crimes committed by the Russians in the territories they temporarily occupied,” he explained.
The capture of at least part of Kobyansk by Ukrainian forces, if confirmed, would likely leave thousands of Russian soldiers trapped on the front line, deprived of supplies. Reuters could not independently verify the situation in the city.
Ukraine has seized a swathe of territory in the east in recent days, its fastest advance since it overcame a Russian attack on the capital, Kyiv, in March.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video speech, last night, that at least 30 settlements have been liberated in the Kharkiv region.
Moscow admitted that its fighting front was shaken in Kharkiv, but said it was rushing to send additional forces to reinforce the region.
The head of the Russian-appointed administration in the occupied areas of Kharkiv, Vitaly Janchev, described the advance as a “Ukrainian victory” and called on civilians to flee.
#Ukraine #confirms #entry #important #railway #hub #Russian #supplies