Russia attacked a town in northeast Ukraine with artillery, rockets, and guided aerial bombs on Friday. They also tried to breach the local defences with infantry. This is a new tactic that Kyiv officials were prepared for, as the war has been going on for three years.
Intense shelling happened at night in Vovchansk, in the Kharkiv region. It’s less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border, according to the regional governor. Oleh Syniehubov talked. The attack made officials start moving out about 3,000 people.
Early in the morning, Russian soldiers tried to break through the Ukrainian defense near Vovchansk. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said they sent extra troops to stop the attack.
Experts said that the attack might be the beginning of Russia trying to make a safe area along its border with Ukraine to stop attacks from Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin said he wanted to do this earlier this year.
Ukraine knew that Russia was putting together a lot of soldiers near the border in the northeast, near Kharkiv and Sumy regions. The Kremlin’s forces are attacking eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian intelligence officials think they will also attack in the northeast.
Although Russia may not be able to take control of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second biggest city, it could force Ukraine to send more soldiers there, making other areas more at risk of attack. Additionally, making Ukrainian authorities move civilians out is likely to cause problems and use up resources.
“The whole town is being heavily bombed right now, it’s not safe to stay here,” said Tamaz Hambarishvili, the leader of Vovchansk town, to Ukraine’s Hromadske Radio.
The Ukrainian military is still fighting against Russian spy and attack groups, even in the afternoon.
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Russia allegedly launched an assault to breach defence in northeastern Kharkiv – Ukraine
