Russian forces have captured five villages in northeastern Ukraine in a renewed ground assault, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Associated Press journalists in the city of Vovchansk reported multiple buildings destroyed after Russian airstrikes and barrages of Grad rockets. Ukrainian officials did not confirm whether the villages had been taken, but Ukrainian journalists reported that Russian troops had captured four of the villages on Friday, with Russia claiming a fifth village was also taken. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that fighting was ongoing in several settlements, with Ukrainian troops carrying out counterattacks to protect Ukrainian territory.
The Institute for the Study of War confirmed through geolocated footage that at least one of the villages had been seized, describing the recent Russian gains as “tactically significant.” The renewed assault on the region has forced over 1,700 civilians to flee settlements near the fighting. Russia continued to target Vovchansk with airstrikes and Grad rockets, leading to the evacuation of residents by police and volunteers. Journalists witnessed multiple air attacks during their time in Vovchansk, with the city facing constant aviation strikes, rocket missile systems strikes, and artillery attacks, leaving the area devastated.
Residents who were evacuated expressed fear and uncertainty about the situation, with one individual stating, “You lie down and think — whether they will kill you now, or in an hour, or in three.” Another evacuee described the devastation in the city center, saying, “Everything is trembling. We didn’t sleep these two nights at all.” Russia’s push in Kharkiv aims to exploit ammunition shortages before promised Western supplies can reach the front lines and to pin down Ukrainian forces in the northeast, preventing them from joining heavy battles in the Donetsk region, where Russian troops are gaining ground.
Ukrainian officials have downplayed Russian statements about captured territory, with reinforcements being sent to the Kharkiv region to defend against Russian forces. Artillery, mortar, and aerial bombardments hit numerous towns and villages in the region, resulting in casualties and injuries. President Zelenskyy called on Western allies to ensure swift delivery of promised military aid and requested actual delivery of weapons to Ukraine rather than just announcements. The attack was launched from two areas in the Kharkiv region, with Russian assault groups trying to break through Ukrainian defensive lines in Vovchansk and the region north of Lyptsi.
The conflict has escalated with Ukrainian forces also launching drone and missile attacks on Russian regions, resulting in casualties on both sides. In Luhansk, an oil depot fire killed four people, while shelling in Donetsk led to three deaths, including a child. The war has seen back and forth advances by both sides, with Russia failing in an early attempt to storm Kharkiv but later being pushed out by the Ukrainian army. The bold counterattack by Ukraine in 2022 helped demonstrate its ability to defeat Russia on the battlefield and garner military support from Western countries.
