UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, May 26 — Over the past day, Russia conducted eight assaults in Kharkiv Oblast with advancement on the Kharkiv axis.

On May 25, the ISW reported that Russia had recently advanced in the Kharkiv direction. Geolocated footage indicated their troops near the Aggregate Plant in Vovchansk (northeast of Kharkiv).

Last year, Russia tried to reoccupy Vovchansk, a city located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border. In April 2025, the Ukrainian military announced Russian plans to conduct another offensive on the city.

On May 25, Viktor Trehubov, the “Khortytsia” operational-strategic group of forces spokesperson, said to Suspilne that, while Moscow maintained the accumulation of forces to the north of the border since the beginning of the full-scale war, they now are attempting to cross it in new areas. 

The General Staff reported about six Russian attacks near Vovchansk, Stroivka, and Krasne Pershe on the Kharkiv axis over the past day.

Russian forces also continued offensive operations near Kruhliakivka and Nova Kruhliakivka in the Kupiansk direction but did not advance.

On May 24At the same time, Nico Lange, a German military analyst, told Bild that Russia can start a new large-scale offensive in Ukraine, targeting the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. They want to create new challenges for diplomatic negotiations.

Over the past day, Russian forces attacked six settlements in Kharkiv Oblast, killing two and injuring five people. 

Overall, last week, Russians attacked Kharkiv itself seven times and used, according to the city mayor, an FPV drone with an explosive “part taken from RPG (rocket launcher)” for the first time since the big invasion.

Read more

Gwara is a Kharkiv-based independent newsroom that works to tell you about our vibrant home while it resists Russia’s war of aggression and endures through its consequences. Please, consider buying our journalists a coffee or subscribing to our Patreon to support our reporting long-term.