Ukrainian forces capture 60 Russian troops in Vovchansk clashes
The Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) captured approximately 60 Russian soldiers near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, according to Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for the Khortytsia operational-strategic troop grouping, LIGA.net reported on June 2.
Voloshyn confirmed that as of June 3, fighting was ongoing in Vovchansk, where the AFU now controls about 70% of the town. "The situation on the ground remains dynamic with our forces making significant inroads," he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Yuriy Povkh, spokesman for the Kharkiv operational and tactical troop grouping, stated earlier that intense street fighting is ongoing, despite the Ukrainian forces' commanding position in most of the town.
According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report dated May 31, the AFU has recently reclaimed positions in Vovchansk amidst a continuous Russian offensive. Footage geolocated by the ISW illustrates Russian difficulties in establishing a foothold on the southern bank of the Vovcha River within the town.
Russian military sources disclosed footage on May 30 showing the destruction of a bridge over the Vovcha River near Soborna Street in Vovchansk, which occurred amidst two days of fierce battles in and around the town on May 29 and 30. These engagements, especially near the village of Starytsia, have been complicated by the extensive use of drones by both sides, restricting troop movements and forcing smaller group tactics.
Reports from the front lines suggest that Russian forces, struggling to advance near Lyptsi, continue to deploy in small groups without significant progress. These units often resort to moving on foot, motorcycles, or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the challenging terrain of northern Kharkiv Oblast.
In a significant revelation on May 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing world leaders in a video, disclosed that Russian troops were forming a new military group near the Ukrainian border, approximately 90 kilometers from Kharkiv, indicating a potential escalation in the vicinity.
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