Russian forces assault Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv area, opening new entrance | EUROtoday

Issued on: 10/05/2024 – 14:57

2 min

Intense nighttime shelling focused Vovchansk, within the Kharkiv area and fewer than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov stated. The barrage prompted authorities to start the evacuation of round 3,000 folks.

Then, round daybreak, Russian infantry tried to penetrate the Ukrainian defenses close to Vovchansk, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry stated, including that it had deployed reserve items to fend off the assault.

Russian army bloggers stated the assault might mark the beginning of a Russian try and carve out a “buffer zone” that President Vladimir Putin vowed to create earlier this yr to halt frequent Ukrainian assaults on Belgorod and different Russian border areas.

Ukraine had beforehand stated it was conscious that Russia was assembling hundreds of troops alongside the northeastern border, near the Kharkiv and Sumy areas. While the Kremlin’s forces launched their most up-to-date floor offensive in jap Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence officers stated they anticipated the Kremlin’s forces to assault within the northeast, too.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated his nation’s army had anticipated the assault and had calibrated its response.

“Now there is a fierce battle in this direction,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying by Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne.

Though Russia seemingly can’t seize Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis, it might compel Ukraine to ship extra troops to the area, leaving different areas extra susceptible to assault. Also, forcing Ukrainian authorities to evacuate civilians is more likely to create disruption and divert assets.

“The entire town is under massive shelling now, it is not safe to stay here,” Vovchansk administration head Tamaz Hambarishvili advised Ukraine’s Hromadske Radio.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated combating towards Russian sabotage and reconnaissance teams continued into the afternoon.

Drone strike on oil refinery in Russia

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian long-range drone struck an oil refinery inside Russia on Friday, officers stated, a day after what seemed to be the deepest strike by Kyiv’s forces on Russian soil hit a petrochemical facility.

Ukraine has repeatedly focused refineries, hoping to disrupt the Kremlin’s struggle machine. Russia is likely one of the world’s greatest oil producers, offering key income and gasoline.

A Ukrainian drone hit a refinery close to town of Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, setting 4 oil storage tanks ablaze, in accordance with Vladislav Shapsha, the regional governor. He stated there have been no casualties.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that air defenses downed seven Ukrainian drones early Friday within the Moscow, Bryansk and Belgorod areas.

On Thursday, a senior official in Russia’s Bashkortostan area, some 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Ukrainian border, stated a drone strike within the metropolis of Salavat induced a hearth at a petrochemical facility.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry stated a pumping station constructing on refinery land was broken however there was no fireplace. Ukrainian army intelligence refused to remark.

(AP)