Ukraine’s armed forces hold 60% of Vovchansk in face of ongoing Russian assault in Kharkiv region – regional military administration

In the Kharkiv region, Ukraine's armed forces control approximately 60% of Vovchansk. However, the attacks in the city continue.

The deputy head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Roman Semenukha, reported this on the telethon air.

"We are under continuous shelling. The enemy continues its assault, mainly focused on the directions of the settlement of Lyptsi, the settlement of Vovchansk, and the left and right flanks of the city of Vovchansk," he said.

Semenukha mentioned that Russian forces unleashed a series of KAB bombs [guided aerial bombs – ed.] over Lyptsi earlier today.

"The enemy is relentless in its attempts to push Ukraine's armed forces out of the city of Vovchansk. Currently, the city is under the control of Ukraine's armed forces by about 60%, and the assaults show no sign of stopping," he said.

He mentioned that the fighting on the Kupiansk front halted earlier this morning.

"Today, armed forces in certain regions of Ukraine have initiated their attack operations to solidify their positions. There are also reports of border shelling in the districts of Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv, and Chuhuyiv," Semenukha added.

According to reports, the occupiers prioritized capturing Vovchansk because it would give them a tactical advantage in advancing in the Kharkiv region.

However, according to Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, this attack by the Russian Federation is exclusively propaganda in nature. The aggressor country's leadership seeks to demonstrate to the West that Moscow allegedly maintains control over the course of the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky emphasized that the occupiers' similar actions were aimed at influencing the leaders of Western countries and forcing them to make certain concessions.

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At this moment, Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region is almost destroyed due to constant shelling by the Russian invaders: the situation in the city is critical.

The enemy continues to attempt to break through the defense of Ukrainian units on the Shebekino-Vovchansk front. The defenders are cleaning the streets north of Vovchansk, preventing the enemy from gaining a foothold.

Russian troops in the Kharkiv region advanced 10 kilometers deep into Ukraine.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that the Russian invaders had extended the area of active hostilities in the Kharkiv region by nearly 70 kilometers. He also mentioned their focus was on the Strilecha-Lyptsi front and taking control of Vovchansk while simultaneously launching an attack in the Ukrainian troops' rear.

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces reports that the Russian army is conducting active battles to push Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Vovchansk, Stanytsia, and Lyptsi.