IRISH EXAMINER
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces have achieved “combat control” over areas in the north-eastern Kharkiv region that Russian troops had entered earlier in the month. In his nightly video address, Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers had managed to secure the border area previously occupied by Russian forces. This statement highlights a significant shift in the ongoing conflict, as Ukrainian troops have reclaimed territory amidst the continuing clashes.
However, Zelensky’s declaration contrasts with statements from Russian officials. Viktor Vodolatskiy, a member of Russia’s lower house of parliament, claimed that Russian forces control more than half of Vovchansk, a key town three miles inside the border, according to the Russian state news agency Tass.
Vovchansk has been a critical battleground since Russia’s offensive began in the Kharkiv region on May 10. Vodolatskiy also indicated that after securing Vovchansk, Russian forces would aim to advance towards the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Pokrovsk in the neighboring Donetsk region, signifying an ongoing and potentially escalating conflict in the area.
