General Shirsky said the situation in the northeastern provinces had “significantly deteriorated” this week as Russian forces continued to advance.
Ukraine's military commander has admitted that his forces are facing a “difficult situation” in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, where thousands more people have fled their homes as Russian forces continue to advance.
“This week, the situation in the Kharkiv region has significantly worsened,” Oleksandr Shirsky wrote on Telegram on Sunday. “Fighting continues in border areas along the state border with the Russian Federation.”
He acknowledged that the situation was “difficult” and that the Russian attackers had achieved “partial successes” in some areas, but added: “Ukraine's Armed Forces are doing everything in their power to maintain their defensive lines and positions. I'm doing my best,” he said.
The heavy fighting forced at least one Ukrainian military unit to retreat, leaving more land for Russian forces across poorly defended settlements in the so-called disputed “gray zone” along Russia's border.
By Sunday afternoon, the city of Vovtyansk, the largest town in the northeast with a pre-war population of 17,000, had emerged as the focus of the fighting.
Kharkiv regional police chief Volodymyr Timoshko said Russian troops were on the outskirts of the town and approaching from three directions. “The infantry fighting has already begun,” he said. Tymoshko said Russian tanks were spotted along the main road leading into the town, showing the Russian government was confident in deploying heavy weapons.
Evacuation teams worked tirelessly throughout the day to pull residents, mostly elderly, out of danger.
At least 4,000 civilians have been evacuated from the Kharkov region since Friday, when Moscow's forces launched the operation, Governor Oleh Sinyevov said in a social media statement. He said heavy fighting broke out along the northeastern front on Sunday, with Russian forces attacking 27 settlements in 24 hours.
Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that Russian troops had captured four border villages, in addition to the five villages reported to have been captured on Saturday. These areas may have been poorly defended due to the dynamic fighting and constant heavy artillery bombardment, which facilitated the Russian advance.
Ukraine's leadership does not recognize Moscow's interests. However, Tymoško said that Strileča, Pirna and Borsivika were under Russian occupation and that it was on Russian instructions that the Russians brought in infantry to attack the warring villages of Hriboke and Lukiansi. .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Sunday that heavy fighting was occurring in parts of the region.
President Zelensky said that “defensive battles and heavy fighting are continuing along most of our country's borders,'' adding, “The idea behind the offensive in the Kharkov region is to expand our military forces and protect the Ukrainian people.'' It undermines the moral and motivational foundations of competence.” themselves. “
Al Jazeera's John Holman said: “The advance is significant not only because of the territory but also because it puts Ukraine within artillery distance of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, within 10 kilometers (six miles) or so.” . Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
“It also means that Ukraine is very paper thin on various fronts and will probably have to divert soldiers from other areas and send them to the Kharkov region.” he added.
Analysts said the Russian attack was aimed at taking advantage of ammunition shortages before promised Western supplies reach the front lines. Ukrainian soldiers said the Kremlin was following the usual Russian tactic of launching disproportionate amounts of artillery and infantry attacks to deplete troops and firepower.
By intensifying fighting that has so far been a static part of the front, Russian forces are pinning down Ukrainian forces in the northeast while threatening heavy fighting further south, where Moscow also looms large. It's stretching.
The advance comes after Russia stepped up attacks targeting energy infrastructure and settlements in March, which analysts say is a concerted effort to create the conditions for attacks. I predicted that.
