– Around 5 o’clock the enemy made an attempt to break through our defense line under the cover of armored vehicles. These attacks were repulsed for the time being, but fighting continues with varying intensity, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Kyiv has sent several reinforcements to the area, the statement added.
Zelenskyj: Be prepared
A high-ranking military source in the Ukrainian defense tells Reuters that the Russian forces advanced one kilometer near the border town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. Russia has so far not commented on the offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says at a press conference in Kyiv that Ukraine has been prepared to meet Russia’s moves, but that Moscow may still send more forces to the area.
Putin said in March that he wanted to create a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory. He then said that there was a need to protect Russia from Ukrainian attacks.
Since then, Kharkiv, which is particularly vulnerable due to its location near the border with Russia, has been hit by a number of Russian attacks.
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Evacuated Vovchansk
According to Governor Oleh Synjehubov of the Kharkiv region, two have been killed and five wounded in Russian grenade attacks on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian authorities initiated the evacuation of civilians in Vovchansk and nearby areas.
– Together with humanitarian organisations, we set up transport for those who do not have cars, says head of Vovchansk’s military administration, Tamaz Gamarashvili.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said earlier that it had captured at least two villages in the region this week.
(© NTB)
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Tags: Ukraine Kharkiv Ukraine Russia launched offensive Kharkiv
