Vovchansk under Ukraine's control despite critical situation, governor says

The situation in the frontline Ukrainian town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast is "critical" due to "constant Russian shelling that has almost completely destroyed the town," Governor Tamaz Hambarashvili said on national television on May 14.

"The Ukrainian forces are defending the town," he said.

Although Ukraine is in full control of Vovchansk, small groups of enemy forces are attempting to enter the town's outskirts, resulting in ongoing small arms fire.

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The evacuation has been underway for five days, with most residents leaving in their own vehicles. Authorities are providing assistance to those who are unable to evacuate on their own.

Earlier in the day, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synehubov reported that Russian forces had killed two local residents in the Vovchansk municipality during combat operations.

On May 13, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said additional Ukrainian forces had been directed to northern Kharkiv Oblast, currently facing an ongoing Russian offensive.

Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast

Russian forces attempted to penetrate Ukraine's defenses near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast at 5 a.m. on May 10, but Ukrainian defenders repelled the attack, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported.

The Russians also heavily shelled border settlements.

Read also: Vovchansk evacuation underway as 20% of locals stay amid major Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast

Russian troops initiated a new wave of counteroffensives on this front, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. He also announced the redeployment of Ukrainian forces to the Kharkiv sector.

There were ongoing battles in Strilecha, Pylna, Borysivka, Oliynykove, and Ohirtseve in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, the General Staff reported. Ukrainian forces launched counterattacks near Lyptsi and Vovchansk.

Russian forces occupied several villages in the border areas of Kharkiv Oblast, the DeepState monitoring group claimed earlier.

Russian soldiers are localized in Kharkiv Oblast's "gray zone," and it is not expanding, Khortytsia National Security Service representative Nazar Voloshyn said on national TV.

Russia had tactical successes near Vovchansk, and the situation on the Kharkiv front remained difficult, Ukraine’s General Staff reported overnight on May 13.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine