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Ukraine liberates 23 settlements in two weeks – General Staff

The Ukrainian military has launched a counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast
The Ukrainian military has launched a counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast

Russia's war against Ukraine - the main events of May 19

“Since May 5, a total of 23 settlements in the Kharkiv area have been liberated by the actions of our forces,” Hromov said at a briefing.

Read also: Russians bomb chemical storage in Kharkiv Oblast

He added that the Russian invaders are trying to hamper the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian military's approach to the state border.

On May 11, Ukrainian forces liberated the village of Pytomnyk in Kharkiv Oblast. The day before, the settlements of Cherkaski Tyshky, Ruski Tyshky, Rubizhne and Bairak were liberated, while on May 6 the settlements of Oleksandrivka, Fedorivka, Ukrainka, Shestakovo, and Peremoha were liberated from Russian invaders.

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Read also: Bodies of dead Russian soldiers found throughout liberated settlements of Kharkiv Oblast, says governor

On May 15, the 227th Battalion of the 127th Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine forced out the Russian invaders and reached the state border with Russia in Kharkiv Oblast.

Russian invaders may have decided to completely abandon their positions around Kharkiv due to the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army and because of their limited reinforcements, the U.S. Institute for the Study of War, a think tank, has said.