KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE, May 10 — Starting at about 3:00 a.m. on May 10, the Russian military massively shelled Vovchansk and settlements near the Russian border. People are moving for safer places, said Tamaz Hambarashvili, the head of the Vovchansk City Military Administration.

“People are now moving to safer places. Those who cannot leave on their own, we [authorities] are now organizing the evacuation,” he commented.

Hambarashvili says, about 3,000 people remain in the border district of Kharkiv region near Vovchansk. Massive Russian shelling continues.

According to Kharkiv Oblast Governor, as of 3:30 p.m., on May 10, one person was killed in the Russian shelling of Vovchansk. There are also two injured — one of them is under the rubble of a house. A 60-year-old woman was injured in another strike.

As Oleh Syniehubov reported, the Russians were attacking Vovchansk with KAB bombs, multiple rocket launchers, and artillery all night long. He also added that the occupants tried to break through the border but failed.

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine are confidently holding their positions: not a single meter [of the Kharkiv region] has been lost. The enemy group does not threaten Kharkiv; its forces are only enough for provocations in the northern direction. All authorities are working on the ground and fulfilling their duties,” said Syniehubov. 

As President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the joint press conference with Zuzana Čaputová, President of Slovakia, in Kyiv, Russia launched a new offensive north of the Kharkiv region.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia tried to break through Ukrainian defenses, but “Ukraine has met them with our military, brigades, and artillery.” He said that Russia might gather more troops in this direction, but “our military, our command knew about [the offensive] and were prepared to meet the enemy with fire.” 

Thank you for paying attention to what’s happening in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region: it’s very important to us to report on what Russia does to our home to the world. Please, consider also supporting our Kharkiv-based newsroom on Patreon, BMC, or PayPal.

Read more

  • Russian troops are preparing for an assault on Kharkiv and Sumy regions, presumably at the end of May or June 2024, says deputy chief of Ukrainian military intelligence agency Vadym Skibitskyi said in an interview with Economist, published on May 2.