The defense forces prevent the Russians from gaining a foothold in Vovchansk

Defense forces prevent the Russians from gaining a foothold in Vovchansk. Photo: Public Radio

During the day, the Russians lost more than 320 people killed and wounded in the Kharkiv direction.

Defense forces are not allowing the enemy to gain a foothold in Vovchansk, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reported on the air of the telethon.

It is noted that during the past day in the Kharkiv direction, the enemy continued offensive actions and carried out 11 attacks. Fighting took place in particular in the areas of the settlements of Liptsi, Staritsa, and Vovchansk. The enemy continues to be hit by fire from our artillery and UAVs. The defense forces are cleaning the streets in the north of Vovchansk.

Over the past day, the enemy lost more than 320 people killed and wounded, as well as 43 units of weapons and military equipment in this direction.

The greatest activity of Russian troops was recorded in the Pokrovsky direction in the Donetsk region. There, during the day, Ukrainian defenders repelled 41 enemy attacks.

Russian offensive on Kharkiv Oblast

It will be recalled that the Russian troops intensified shelling in the northern direction of the Kharkiv region. First of all, the enemy attacks the city of Vovchansk.

Reserve units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been sent to strengthen the defense in the Vovchansk direction. The military continues to hold back the enemy's advance.

Subsequently, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed that the Russian army had launched a counteroffensive in the Kharkiv direction. He noted that the military command knew about the enemy's plans for a new offensive and calculated the forces to respond to the attack.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported on the strengthening of positions in the Kharkiv region, where defensive operations continue.

On May 13, the head of the Kharkiv regional state administration, Oleh Syniehubov, noted that the Russian army shelled more than 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region. Seven people were injured.

It was also reported that the pace of Russian offensive operations in the north of the Kharkiv region has slowed down. According to analysts, Russian troops prefer the creation of a «buffer zone» near the border, rather than a deeper advance into the Kharkiv region.

Currently, there are no plans to evacuate the population from Kharkiv. At the same time, people are being brought to the city from the region, from areas where hostilities are ongoing. From the beginning of the Russian offensive in the north of the Kharkiv region to May 16, 8,779 people were deported from border settlements.

It was also reported that the Russian occupiers in the northern part of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv Region are taking civilians captive, and there have been recorded cases of shooting civilians.