Russian forces have achieved a “tactical success” in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine after opening a new front last week; according to the Kiev army, the achievements would have come at a significant cost.
“At the moment, the enemy is experiencing a tactical success” near the border with the city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian army’s General Staff said in a message posted on social media. The situation on the ground is complex and constantly evolving. , and Russia has “deployed significant forces to attack the city with up to five battalions,” Kyiv’s military added.
Russian forces introduced an offensive toward Kharkiv early Friday, Ukrainian officials said, adding that Kyiv’s military is funneling more resources toward the northeastern border.
The regional capital, the city of Kharkiv, which has been under persistent Russian shelling for weeks, is Ukraine’s second-largest. Capturing it would be a significant victory for Russia, but it is unclear whether Moscow will launch a broader attack on the colony.
Russia claimed swaths of northeastern Ukraine during its initial invasion effort in February 2022, but Kyiv recaptured giant spaces during its counteroffensive later in the year. country.
“The enemy is actively attacking our units in various directions with the aim of advancing deep into the territory of our state,” Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, head of the Ukrainian army, said on Sunday. “The scenario is difficult, yet the Ukrainian Defense Forces are doing everything possible to hold defensive lines and positions and inflict damage on the enemy. “
Local officials say almost 6,000 residents have been evacuated from the region, with shelling focusing largely on Vovchansk. Russian forces “appear to be attempting to encircle Vovchansk,” the U.S.-based independent think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Sunday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday it had captured settlements in Kharkiv, adding on Sunday that its forces now controlled four more villages in the region. The Ukrainian military said Russia carried out 22 strikes in the Kharkiv region on Sunday.
On Monday, figures released by the Ukrainian military reported the highest number of Russian casualties since the start of the war, recording more than 1,700 casualties in the past 24 hours. According to Kyiv, Russia has also lost more than 30 tanks and 42 armored vehicles. automobiles in the past. Newsweek may simply not independently determine those numbers.
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry’s email for comment.
Ellie Cook is a security and defence reporter for Newsweek founded in London, UK. His paintings focus largely on the Russia-Ukraine war, the U. S. military, weapons systems, and emerging technologies. He joined Newsweek in January 2023, after applying as a reporter for the Daily Express and with a degree in International Journalism from the City, University of London.
Languages: English, Spanish.
You can reach Ellie via email at e. cook@newsweek. com.
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