UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Dec 16 – Over the past day, Russian troops launched ten attacks in the Kharkiv direction near Vysoka Yaruha, Tykhe, and Vovchansk, reported the General Staff.

Russia started its new offensive north and northeast in the Kharkiv region in May, but Ukrainian troops have stabilized the frontline in this section since. Now, heavy battles are ongoing in and around Vovchansk (three miles from the border, 46 miles away from Kharkiv) and near Lyptsi (six miles from the border, 12 miles from Kharkiv.)

In the Kupiansk direction, the Russian army attempted to storm Ukrainian positions four times. Ukrainian troops repelled the assaults near Zahryzove and Lozova.

Russia launched one missile strike, 36 airstrikes, dropping 65 glide bombs (KABs) on positions of Ukrainian troops and on cities and villages in the Kharkiv region over the past day. Russians fired over 4,000 times at Ukrainian forces, including 170 times with multiple launch rocket systems.

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  • In the Kharkiv direction, the Russians have built up enough manpower and equipment to launch a second offensive from the north, said Oleksandr Danylenko, head of the communication for the “Gart” border guard brigade, to Ukrainian outlet Suspilne.