Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces now control northern parts of Kharkiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that Ukrainian forces had regained “combat control” over areas in the northern Kharkiv region, where Russian troops had advanced earlier in the month. This statement, made during Zelenskyy’s nightly video address following a meeting with military and regional officials in Kharkiv, contrasts with claims from Russian officials.

Viktor Vodolatsky, a member of Russia’s State Duma, told TASS news agency that Russian forces controlled over half of Vovchansk, a town five kilometers from the border. He added that Russian forces intended to target Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region once Vovchansk was secured.

Russian forces had reportedly pushed into the Kharkiv region’s border areas earlier this month, with the Russian Defense Ministry claiming control over approximately 12 settlements. Despite this, Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials reported progress in stabilizing the region. The Ukrainian military’s General Staff described the situation in Vovchansk as “tense but controlled by the defense forces” in their evening report on Friday.

Source – CGTN