Russian forces captured five villages in northeastern Ukraine in a renewed ground assault, with Ukrainian officials not confirming the capture but reports indicating that multiple villages were taken. The fighting took place in a contested “gray zone” on the border of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Saturday that fighting was ongoing in several settlements, with troops carrying out counterattacks to protect Ukrainian territory.
The Institute for the Study of War described the recent Russian gains as “tactically significant” and geolocated footage confirmed that at least one village had been seized. The renewed assault has forced over 1,700 civilians to flee the area, with Russia continuing to target Vovchansk with airstrikes and Grad rockets. Police and volunteers raced to evacuate residents, with reports of extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure caused by Russian attacks. The situation in Vovchansk and surrounding areas was described as incredibly difficult.
Russia’s push in Kharkiv aims to exploit ammunition shortages before promised Western supplies arrive, and to keep Ukrainian forces occupied in the northeast while battles take place in the Donetsk region. Russian military bloggers suggested that the assault could be part of a plan to create a “buffer zone” to prevent Ukrainian attacks on Russian border regions. Fears also arose that Russia could cut off supply routes and besiege the city of Kharkiv, which has a population of 1.1 million people.
Ukrainian officials have downplayed Russian claims of captured territory, with reinforcements being sent to the region to hold off Russian forces. Heavy fighting continued in various areas of the Kharkiv region, with artillery, mortar, and aerial bombardments targeting multiple towns and villages. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called on Western allies to ensure the swift delivery of promised military aid to support Ukrainian forces on the front lines.
The attack on Ukraine was launched from two areas in the Kharkiv region, with Russian assault groups attempting to break through Ukrainian defensive lines. Ukrainian forces also launched a barrage of drones and missiles, leading to air defense systems shooting down several rockets and drones over Russian regions. Casualties were reported in both Ukraine and Russia, with fatalities and injuries resulting from the conflict on both sides. The ongoing violence has resulted in significant damage and displacement across the region.
In the early days of the war, Russia attempted a failed assault on Kharkiv but retreated after a month. Ukrainian forces later pushed Russia out of Kharkiv in a bold counterattack, signaling to Western countries that Ukraine could defeat Russia on the battlefield and deserved military support. The situation in northeastern Ukraine remains tense and volatile, with ongoing clashes and escalating violence posing significant challenges for residents and authorities in the region.
