Russian offensive against Kharkiv forces civilians to evacuate – DW – 05/11/2024

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the Kharkiv region near the Russian border, after Moscow launched a new ground offensive in this region of Ukraine yesterday Friday, the governor indicated this Saturday (05/11/2024). “1,775 people have been evacuated,” regional governor Oleg Sinegubov wrote on social media. He said that Russia attacked about thirty cities in the region with artillery and mortars in the last 24 hours.

In addition, as a result of “large-scale” attacks against the Vovchansk district, where Russian troops tried to cross the border on Friday, according to Sinegubov, two civilians were killed, a man and a woman, while 55 were killed in the Cherkasy town of Tishki. One civilian lost his life.

According to Ukrainian military morning reports, the Russians launched seven missiles and 108 aerial bombardments as well as 120 rockets over the past 24 hours, while ground attacks were particularly heavy on the Avdiivka front (east). Kiev claims to have so far managed to foil nine attacks in the Slobozhanske border area in Kharkiv.

Russian forces made small advances in this Ukrainian border area, which they invaded earlier in 2022 and were expelled from later that year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday confirmed the Russian attempt to open a new front in Kharkiv, reporting that Ukrainian forces were able to repulse it “with artillery fire” in “brutal fighting”. A Ukrainian military source also said yesterday that Russian troops had advanced one kilometer in an attempt to create a “security zone” to prevent attacks on Russian territory bordering Ukraine.

Russian forces, on their part, claimed to have foiled attacks with 21 Vampire missiles and 16 drones on various areas of Russia during the night. A Ukrainian attack with long-range ATACMS missiles hit an oil depot, as well as homes and vehicles, killing three people, including six from the explosion and injuring eight, according to Moscow-appointed ruler of the Lugansk region, Leonid Paschnik. Two were injured and suffered smoke inhalation.

LGC (AFP, EFE, RTR)