In response to persistent pressure from Russian forces, Ukraine has withdrew its troops from a number of villages in the Kharkiv border region.
According to a military spokesperson, soldiers had shifted to “more advantageous positions” in two locations of the northeast after coming under heavy fire. This kind of terminology has been employed by Ukraine to indicate retreats during the two-year conflict.
All planned overseas travel has been postponed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as troops fight to stop the latest cross-border incursion, which has resulted in heavy firing on numerous towns and villages.
Sergiy Nykyforov, his press secretary, stated that the president had “instructed that all international events scheduled for the coming days be postponed and new dates coordinated”.
Lukyantski and Hlyboke are two other settlements in the area that Moscow claims its forces have gained control of, along with another settlement in the Zaporizhzhia region. In a statement, a military spokesperson for Ukraine claimed that the objective behind the troop withdrawal from the Lukyantsi and Vovchansk regions was to “preserve the lives of our servicemen and avoid losses”.
Even though Vovchansk is not particularly significant tactically, its annexation would be a blow to Ukrainian morale. The spokesperson for the armed forces stated that although the situation “remains difficult,” their soldiers were “not allowing the Russian occupiers to gain a foothold.”
Prior to this, forces had stabilised the front line, according to Kyrylo Budanov, the head of intelligence for Ukraine.
In the Ukrainian province of northeastern Kharkiv, where it started an unexpected military attack last week, Russia said on Wednesday that its soldiers had taken control of two additional villages.
The defence ministry released a statement saying, “Units of the North group of troops advanced deep into the enemy defences and liberated the settlements of Hlyboke and Lukyantsi in Kharkiv region.”
The Ukrainian military has removed its forces from Vovchansk and Lukyantsi. Oleksii Kharkivskyi, the chief patrol officer of the Vovchansk police department in Kharkiv, verified that Russian troops were stationed in the city in a social media video.
“We are here, evacuating people and helping everyone,” he stated. “The circumstances in Vovchansk are very challenging. “Please flee, as the enemy is positioned on the streets of Vovchansk. Together, we will succeed because we are working quickly and assisting everyone,” he declared. “Ukraine, glory!” Kharkivskyi continued.
