Zelenskyy says Ukraine has ‘combat control’ over targeted parts of Kharkiv region by Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared a significant victory on Friday, announcing that his country’s armed forces had successfully secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops had staged an incursion in the northern parts of the Kharkiv region earlier this month.

In a powerful nightly video address, Zelenskyy proudly stated, “Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered.” This declaration came after a meeting with military and regional officials in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

However, Zelenskyy’s remarks seemed to contradict statements made by Russian officials, highlighting the ongoing conflict and misinformation surrounding the situation. The Ukrainian leader’s visit to Kharkiv came in the wake of a devastating Russian missile attack on a major printing house that claimed the lives of at least seven people.

The intensified attacks on the Kharkiv region, which began on May 10, have forced authorities to evacuate over 11,000 individuals, according to regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Russia claims its actions are in response to alleged shelling by Kyiv in Russian border regions like Belgorod, where air strikes are frequently launched on Ukraine.

This latest offensive by Russia has further strained Ukraine’s already depleted military forces, which have been engaged in a grueling conflict for over two years. The destruction of the train network in the region adds to the pressure on the Ukrainian army, already stretched thin by the ongoing war.

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating, Zelenskyy’s announcement of gaining control in the Kharkiv region marks a crucial development in the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and security in Ukraine.