Volchansk: A frontline battle amidst evacuation and resilience
13 May 2024 08:26, updated: 13 May 2024 11:22
Fierce battles for Volchansk in the Kharkiv region are ongoing. "At the moment, the enemy has tactical success" and has pushed into Ukraine's defence, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported overnight from Sunday to Monday. It was added that the Russians launched an attack with five battalions, and in just one day, 100 of Vladimir Putin's soldiers were killed. Almost 6,000 civilians have fled the region.
On the front towards Kharkiv, the operational situation remains complex and dynamic. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informs that the border town of Volchansk is fighting with the Russian invaders. The enemy used significant forces to capture the city but did not count losses.
Russians achieving "tactical success"
The statement was published overnight from Sunday to Monday. Ukrainians admit that "at the moment, the enemy has tactical success."
According to the statement, the enemy did not care about its losses and used significant force to attack the town, which had up to five battalions. Russian invaders lost more than 100 occupiers in this direction in just one day.
Russians take control of villages
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine adds that the Ukrainian military is conducting defensive operations, inflicting damage on the enemy from fire, using drones for surveillance, and targeting the enemy. They assured that the measures are aimed at destroying the enemy, who has 'pushed Ukraine into' the defence.
The Russian army claims to have taken control of at least nine villages in the border Kharkiv region.
Status as of 10 May 2024:
The Ukrainian side emphasizes repelling attacks and fighting to maintain control over the attacked settlements, inflicting significant losses on the aggressor.
Status as of 12 May 2024:
Nearly 6,000 refugees
The General Staff announced that the reserves are being deployed to stabilize the situation. When determining soldiers' tasks, one of the main priorities is protecting the soldiers' lives.
As reported by the Ukrainian portal Obozrevatel, as of 12 May at 11 p.m. GMT, "all streets of Volchansk are under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine." However, the Russians are constantly shelling the city.
The head of the region's authorities, Oleh Sinehubov, reported on Sunday evening that almost 6,000 residents had been evacuated.
This number includes all the residents evacuated since the beginning of the Russian offensive on the Kharkiv region.
Sinehubov appealed to the residents of Volchansk and the border villages to "not neglect safety and evacuate to safe areas of the country".
Tamaz Gamkrelidze, head of the Volchansk military administration, informed that the situation is challenging, as enemy FPV drones constantly fly over Volchansk. This poses a significant threat to police officers and volunteers who risk their lives evacuating civilians. He added that despite Russian attacks, the city remains under the control of Ukrainian troops.