Russian troops fought fierce battles with Ukrainian soldiers in the area of the city of Vovchansk in northeastern Ukraine today, continuing their ground offensive that opened a new front and put even more pressure on the overstretched Ukrainian forces, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
Moscow's new offensive in the northeast, which began late last week, is the most significant incursion of Russian forces across the border since the full-scale invasion began.
In just two days, Moscow has captured between 100 and 125 square kilometers, which includes at least seven villages, most of which are already depopulated, according to two analysts monitoring open sources.
Vovchansk, one of the largest towns in the area, which had a pre-war population of 17,000 but was reduced to just 2,500 because of the war even before Russia launched a new offensive last week, has become a key focus of fierce fighting that has engulfed Kharkiv region. As of today, only 200-300 residents remain in the city, Kharkiv Governor Oleg Sinekhubov said, and Russian forces have approached from three sides.
Poorly constructed Ukrainian fortifications and persistent ammunition shortages have allowed Russia to advance in the area since Friday, local officials and soldiers say. Kremlin forces are trying to distract Ukrainian troops along the 1,000-kilometer front line until a large batch of new military aid to Kiev arrives on the battlefield from the United States and European partners in the coming weeks and months, analysts say.
This makes this period an opportunity for Moscow and one of the most dangerous for Kiev in the war, now in its third year, they believe. By stepping up offensive operations, Russia seeks to stretch Ukrainian forces and make a breakthrough.
Russian forces claim to have seized another 90 square km, which has not been confirmed by independent experts, AP said.
Opening a new front from two points along the border with Russia's Belgorod region is the easiest tactic to pin down and divert Ukrainian forces from the fierce fighting going on in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The invasion of Kharkiv effectively squeezed Ukrainian forces in the region and diverted valuable reserves from the fighting in the Avdeevka and Chasiv Yar region of Donetsk region, where Russia's advance is much more massive and strategically important, AP notes.