“The enemy is trying to expel Ukrainian forces from Vovchansk in particular,” Semenukha explained to state television.
The Ukrainian armed forces control about 60% of the settlement, which means that the attacks continue unabated
– He added, indicating that the fighting is taking place from house to house.
According to Oleh Zhenyhopov, governor of the Kharkiv region, the front line currently runs along the Vovsa River, which bisects the settlement. “Our soldiers are trying to protect the settlement from house to house and street to street,” he said. He added in a statement to state television that “the enemy's plan to quickly occupy the northern part of the region has failed.”
The Vovchansk police chief announced last week that the situation was “extremely difficult,” saying that Russian forces had taken up positions in the settlement.
Due to the operation launched by Russian forces in the border area of the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian military command sent reinforcements to the Vovchansk and Liptsy regions.
The Ukrainian General Staff also announced on Monday that it was able to repel attacks near Staritsya, located five kilometers from the Russian border, and that Ukrainian forces are now trying to strengthen their defensive positions in the region.
Shimenoha said local authorities have evacuated about 10,500 people from the border area since the attacks began on May 10.
Cover image source: Getty Images
