Russian armed forces have broken through Ukrainian army defenses in Volchansk, now controlling the oil refinery and bus station, the Telegram channel Mash reported, quoted by Focus.
According to the channel, there are about 4,000 Ukrainian servicemen in the city. Fighters from the Russian army's Northern Group managed to cross to the southern bank of the Volchya River after intense fighting. The main clashes are currently taking place in the area of the railway station, where Ukrainian forces are resisting, but according to Russian sources, without success.
Mash claims that Ukrainian fighters are hiding in numerous buildings around the city. According to the Russian side, Ukrainian multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) are based in Volchansk, which regularly shell the Belgorod region (the reason for the concentration of significant Ukrainian forces in the area).
On July 15, it became clear that the 127th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered serious losses in a counteroffensive near Volchansk. The head of the Russian-appointed administration in the Kharkiv region, Vitaly Ganchev, stated that Russian forces were actively advancing in the Kupyansk and Volchansk regions, expanding the buffer zone and pushing back the Ukrainian army.
Earlier, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced the destruction of a Ukrainian stronghold in Volchansk.