Military: Ukrainian troops “changed positions to more advantageous” near Lykiantsi, Vovchansk, repelled 11 Russian attacks 

UKRAINE, May 15 — Ukrainian troops repelled 11 Russian attacks north of Kharkiv oblast and moved to more advantageous positions near Lukiantsi and Vovchansk to save the lives of personnel, reported Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesman for Khortytsia operational-strategic group, on Ukrainian TV. 

Voloshyn says, Russian attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses “have been stopped,” and the situation near Vovchansk and Lukiatsi has been “stabilized.” 

On May 10, Russians launched a new offensive north and northeast of Kharkiv Oblast. National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine’s secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko said that nearly 30,000 Russian troops engaged in this operation, with another 20,000 currently stationed at the state border. 

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that Ukrainian troops repelled the attacks in directions of Hlyboke—Lyptsi, Lukiantsi—Lyptsi, Borysivka—Neskuchne, and Shebekino (Russia)—Vovchansk. He said three more battles are currently underway in the region. 

Voloshyn also said that Russians “try to find tactical success” and get a foothold near Vovchansk and Lukiantsi, but the Ukrainian army disrupts their attempts via artillery and drone strikes. 

Gwara Media was in Vovchansk, a city that’s one of the main goals of Russia’s new Kharkiv offensive, and talked to people who were fleeing their homes (or staying) under heavy bombardment. Read the field report here. 

On May 13, the General Staff wrote that Russians “currently have tactical success” near Vovchansk and “partial success” in Lukiantsi. 

DeepState analysts reports suggests Russia captured Hatyshche, Ohirtseve, and Pletenivka on the Vovchansk axis, and Lukiantsi, Morokhovets, Oliinykove, Krasne, Strilecha, and Pylne on Lyptsi axis. The Ukrainian military considers most of these settlements “a gray zone,” in which the heavy battles are ongoing.  

Read more 

• Kharkiv Prosecutor’s Office: Russian soldier shoots a 46-year-old civilian point-blank in Vovchansk community, Kharkiv Oblast.
• Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), said in an interview with the New York Times that Ukrainian forces will be able to stabilize the front in the Kharkiv region within “three to four days.” But he expects Russia to conduct a new attack north of Kharkiv, in the Sumy region.