Ukrainian troops have opted to remove their troops from some of the villages in the Kharkiv border region as Russian forces are increasing pressure on them. As stated by a military spokesperson, the soldiers came under heavy fire and have been relocated to two areas of the northeastern region that are more strategically advantageous. This step aligns with Ukraine’s previous habit of saying such things to reveal a tactical withdrawal during the ongoing two-year war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has decided not to go on his scheduled foreign visits as Ukrainian troops still have to deal with the unsuccessful containment of the cross-border incursion. Some towns and villages have been hit by heavy artillery fire, thereby the president has decided to take action. The president’s press secretary, Sergiy Nykyforov, announced that all the international events that were scheduled for the coming days will be postponed and rescheduled.
Moscow says that its forces have captured two more settlements in the area, Lukyantski and Hlyboke, and also the village of Robotyne in the south of the Zaporizhzhia region. Nevertheless, Ukraine insists on its authority over the majority of Robotyne, as a spokesperson for an army brigade fighting there testified that Russian troops are only on the village outskirts.
The removal of the troops from the Lukyantsi and Vovchansk areas was made with the aim of the safety of the Ukrainian servicemen and cutting down on the losses, as stated by a military spokesperson. The Vovchansk capture, although not militarily important, can be extremely demoralizing for Ukraine.
The situation is still difficult, but Ukrainian forces are determined to stop the Russian occupiers from establishing a firm base. The last few encounters in the Kharkiv region resulted in Russian troops attacking Lyptsi. The Ukrainian forces have gained a victory in Vovchansk by repelling the offensive. Civilians have been running away to the west towards Kharkiv to avoid the raging violence.
