Zelenskyy announces Ukraine’s regained control in conflict-ridden Kharkiv region | Global News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a nightly video address on Friday that Ukrainian forces have successfully secured combat control of areas where Russian troops entered the northeastern Kharkiv region earlier this month. This development marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

“Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered,” Zelenskyy stated, highlighting the progress made by the Ukrainian military in pushing back against the Russian incursion. The announcement comes amidst conflicting reports from Russian officials, with Viktor Vodolatskiy claiming that Russian forces now control more than half of the town of Vovchansk, located three miles inside the border.

Vovchansk has been a focal point of the fighting since Russia launched its offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10. The Russian push in Kharkiv is part of a coordinated offensive that also includes incursions in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, as well as testing Ukrainian defenses in the Donetsk region further south.

The city of Kharkiv, located about 20 kilometers from the Russian border, has been a key target for Russian forces seeking to create a buffer zone to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. The conflict has escalated in recent weeks, with Ukrainian authorities evacuating over 11,000 people from the region since the start of the offensive.

The situation in Ukraine remains tense, with Ukrainian forces facing significant challenges in defending against the larger and better-equipped Russian military. The conflict is at a critical juncture, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching implications for the region.