[Korrespondent] In the Kharkov direction, the Ukrainian defense forces inflicted a fiery defeat on the Russians, pushed them back and are clearing them on the northern outskirts of the village of Volchansk.
Russian troops are advancing in the Kharkov region on two directions and have captured several villages near the border. The priority goal is an attack on Volchansk and an attempt to surround the city. The General Staff reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces inflicted a fiery defeat on the Russians, pushed them back and are carrying out a clean-up operation on the northern outskirts of Volchansk. At the same time, Ukrainian society is actively discussing the construction of fortifications in the Kharkov region and whether the authorities were ready for a new attack, which the military and intelligence warned about.
STRETCH THE DEFENSE
Russian occupiers in the Kharkov region are attacking in small groups in new directions, trying to stretch the defense of the Ukrainian military, says Oleg Sinegubov, chairman of the Kharkov OVA. According to information from the General Staff, battles are underway for Volchansk. The Russians attracted significant forces to attack the city - up to 5 battalions - and do not take into account their own losses. The Russian invaders lost more than 100 soldiers per day in this direction alone.
There are also battles to the north of Kharkov - in the directions Pylnaya - Lukyantsy, Pylnaya - Glubokoe, Pylnaya - Oleynikovo, Murom - Bugrovatka. In addition, the Russians are carrying out assault operations in the directions Strelechya - Glubokoe, Oleynikovo - Glubokoe, Oleynikovo - Lukyantsy, Murom - Staritsa, Pletenevka - Tikhoe.
WHAT ABOUT THE FORTIFICATIONS?
Fortifications were built in Volchansk, but constant Russian shelling made it difficult to build them, Tamaz Gambarashvili, head of the Volchanskaya GVA, told Radio Liberty.
Answering a question about how they prepared for the offensive of the Russian occupiers, the head of the GVA assured that “everything was built, but perhaps not so tightly.” “After de-occupation, Volchansk has been under constant fire for a year and a half. And mortars and artillery. Therefore, I repeat once again: from Volchansk to the border is four km. It was extremely difficult to build fortifications,” he emphasized.
The head of the administration of the State Special Transport Service of the Ministry of Defense, Alexander Yakovets, said that the most equipped fortifications, which include reinforced concrete structures and premises for shelter and accommodation of military personnel, are located at a distance of 17-35 km from the front line.
Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the battalion of attack unmanned aerial systems ACHILLES of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Koshevoy Ataman Ivan Sirko, was the first to draw attention to the unsatisfactory condition of fortifications in the Kharkov region.
“If we analyze how the enemy strengthened its combat positions and occupied territories, we saw these satellite images where just hectares and kilometers were dug up - defense lines, fortifications, dragons’ teeth; anti-tank, anti-personnel mining; first line of defense, second, third. Was the preparation of the combat positions of the Defense Forces completely mirrored? In my opinion, no. But it cannot be said that no work was carried out and everyone did not feel that this threat could exist. The defensive lines were prepared. The near future will show how efficiently and effectively this was done,” Fedorenko said.
According to him, the Russians are now trying to test the Ukrainian line of defense, understand where there are weak areas, “to increase their presence as much as possible so that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are forced to maintain a serious group of forces and equipment here.”
GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS
The opening of a new front in the north of the country is depleting Ukraine's already limited resources. Due to delays in the delivery of American military aid, Ukrainian troops are running short of ammunition.
On average, for every 10 shells fired by the Russians, Ukraine could respond with one. Thanks to renewed US support, this problem is gradually being resolved.
But the offensive near Kharkov also reveals problems that Ukraine itself has been too slow to resolve: mobilizing enough military personnel and building adequate lines of defense. Reinforcements sent to Kharkov have to be redeployed from other sectors of the front and from limited reserves.
Ukrainian officials still insist that Kharkov itself is not threatened by a ground invasion. But the further Russian troops advance, the more likely it is that the city will be within range of Russian artillery.
More from korrespondent.net
Russian offensive in the Kharkov region: number of Russians declines
In the Kharkov region, fighting continues in border areas
At first there were about 50,000 Russian military personnel on the border. Currently, more than 30,000 of them are involved in the offensive.
More than 30,000 Russian troops are advancing in the north of the Kharkov region. This was announced by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexander Litvinenko, reports Le Figaro.
According to him, initially about 50,000 Russian military personnel were concentrated on the northeastern border.
A significant part of them are already advancing on Ukrainian territories. Litvinenko noted that we are talking about more than 30 thousand occupiers.
According to all reports, Ukrainian soldiers are ready to repel attacks; heavy fighting continues now, the NSDC secretary added.
Let us recall that on May 10, the Russians launched an offensive in the north of the Kharkov region. They captured several villages in the "gray zone". Now there are battles for the border town of Volchansk.
President Vladimir Zelensky announced the strengthening of the Defense Forces in the Volchansk region of the Kharkov region and other border areas.
More from lb.ua
General Staff: in the Kharkiv direction, the Defense Forces pushed back the enemy from the northern outskirts of Vovchansk, clearing the territory continues
In the Donetsk direction, units of the Defense Forces shot down an enemy Su-25.
by Ivanna Kapustyanska
According to the General Staff, as of 17:00 on May 13, the situation along the entire front line is controlled by the Defense Forces. Ukrainian soldiers inflict losses on the enemy, restore positions and have tactical successes in some areas.
This is stated in the operational summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Fighting continues in the Kharkiv direction as of 5 p.m. The number of combat clashes increased to 12. Our units inflicted fire damage on the enemy, pushed him back and are carrying out clearing operations on the northern outskirts of the settlement of Vovchansk.
A combat clash has begun in the area of the village of Staritsa.
The total losses of the enemy are 106 people, 25 units of weapons and military equipment.
In the Lymansky direction, the number of combat clashes increased to seven, in the Siversky direction - to 14, in the Kramatorsk direction - to 31, in the Pokrovsky direction - to 31.
In Toretsk, Kupyansk, Kurakhivsk, Vremivsk, Gulyaipilsk, Orihivsk, Prydniprovsk the situation has not changed, it is controlled by Ukrainian units.
In Donetsk region, units of the Defense Forces shot down an enemy Su-25.
All attempts by the Russian occupiers to advance are met with fierce resistance by the Ukrainian defenders.
Earlier, the General Staff reported that the enemy had partial success in the area of Lukyantsi in the Kharkiv direction. The defense forces have stopped the advance of the enemy and are carrying out counterattack actions.