UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Jul 26 — The Russian army constantly attacks the settlements of the Derhachi community, and some of them have already been destroyed by almost 100%, said Viacheslav Zadorenko, the head of the Derhachi City Military Administration, on Ukrainian TV. 

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.)

According to Zadorenko, the Russians attack the territory of the community with Iskander missiles and glide bombs (KABs). They also use artillery, tanks, mortars, and FPV drones to strike border settlements.

“They hit civilian vehicles, including those carrying humanitarian aid, and residents’ houses. All the settlements of our community are under fire. And the types of weapons [the Russians use] depend on the distance to the border,” said Viacheslav Zadorenko.

He also added that over the past two weeks, Russians have been massively shelling cultural facilities. Among them were the House of Culture in Kozacha Lopan, a kindergarten and schools in Prokhody and Tokarivka, and a children’s educational facility in Derhachi.

“They also hit residential buildings. There was a case when seven FPV drones targeted a resident’s house. She was there with her husband at the time and did not understand why this weapon was used against her,” Zadorenko explained.

Russians use FPV drones to attack critical infrastructure as well, including power substations and transformers. It is difficult to hit them from a tank or artillery. An FPV drone can fly directly into a village, find the transformer, and hit it. As a result, the settlement could be left without electricity and communication, Zadorenko said.

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