Vovchansk situation deteriorates, nearly destroyed, says Ukrainian police officer
Situation in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, deteriorated significantly: town is almost destroyed due to constant shelling, most of local residents evacuated, National Police patrol officer Oleksiy Kharkivsky reported on Facebook on May 12.
“Today is May 12, situation in city deteriorated," police officer said.
"It is almost destroyed, there are almost no people left. We are evacuating the rest (of locals)."
Kharkivsky also urged residents who still remain in the city to leave without delay.
Earlier, local governor Oleh Synehubov said that 4,073 people were evacuated from frontline areas of oblast amid intensified Russian attacks over the past two days.
Russian assault in Kharkiv Oblast
Russian occupation forces attempted to penetrate Ukraine's defenses near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast at 5 a.m. on May 10. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed that Ukrainian defenders repelled the attack.
Tamaz Gambarashvili, the mayor of Vovchansk, reported on May 10 that more than 250 local residents had been evacuated from Vovchansk and nearby settlements. He added that many people fled on their own, leaving authorities uncertain about the exact number of evacuees.
Military observer Denys Popovych stated that the Russians lack sufficient forces to attack Kharkiv but might attempt to capture Vovchansk.
Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi called the situation in Kharkiv Oblast “escalated" on May 12.
The White House acknowledged that Russian occupiers were preparing for a "larger" offensive on Kharkiv.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
