Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the challenging military scenario in Kharkiv’s northeastern region on Thursday (May 16), characterizing it as “extremely difficult” while reassuring that it remains “under control”.
His assessment followed a high-level meeting with military officials near the front lines.
Zelensky conveyed in a post on his official Telegram channel, “The situation in the Kharkiv region is generally under control, and our soldiers are inflicting significant losses on the occupier. However, the area remains extremely difficult. We are reinforcing our units.”
Earlier reports from the Ukrainian military indicated successful efforts to impede Russia’s advances in certain areas.
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“Our defense forces have partially stabilized the situation. The advance of the enemy in certain zones and localities has been halted,” stated army spokesman Nazar Voloshin during a televised address on Thursday.
Providing further insight, Ukraine’s General Staff revealed in their daily briefing that their forces had “significantly reduced the activity of the Russian occupiers,” cautioning, however, that the adversary persists in their attempts to create conditions for further progression.
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Ukraine Raises Accusations Against Russia
Kyiv leveled accusations against the Russian army, alleging the loss of civilian lives in territories seized by Russia last week.
“According to operational information, the Russian military, attempting to establish control in the city, obstructed local residents from evacuating: they initiated abductions and forced them into basements,” asserted Interior Minister Igor Klymenko via Telegram.
Klymenko added, “There were also reports of the first shootings of civilians by the Russian military,” announcing the launch of a war crimes investigation.
“A resident of Vovchansk attempted to flee on foot, refused to comply with the invaders’ orders, and was fatally shot by the Russians.”
