Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that he had visited the frontline area of Vovchansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region near the Russian border, where Russian forces have been attempting to break through. Russian troops initiated a new front in the north of the region in May, advancing rapidly up to 10 km. Ukraine's military subsequently halted the offensive, which primarily targeted the town of Vovchansk.
"Kharkiv front. The forward command post of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the area of Vovchansk," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Accompanying the statement was a video showing him presenting state awards to soldiers and shaking their hands.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russia continued to carry out air strikes in the region's border areas and that in the last 24 hours, Kyiv's forces had repelled six assaults near Vovchansk and the village of Hlyboke, more than 30 km to the west. Despite Russia's primary focus on the eastern Donetsk region, the assault into Kharkiv has strained Ukraine's outnumbered defenders, prompting Kyiv to deploy reinforcements.
Ukraine successfully advocated for the use of Western weapons for some strikes across the border from Kharkiv region, which Kyiv claims has aided in fending off Russian advances. The Russian forces have been engaged in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine for over 29 months. Kyiv is now urging its allies to ease restrictions that prevent the use of Western weapons for deep strikes inside Russia, targeting military airfields.
During his visit to the Kharkiv region, Zelenskiy also toured the town of Derhachi, located about 15 km from the regional capital Kharkiv, which has frequently been subjected to Russian missile and guided bomb attacks.
