UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Dec. 16— Ukrainian forces repulsed all attacks on Vovchanski Khutory, a village east of Vovchansk, despite the Russian claims of capturing settlement, said the 16th Army’s corps, referring Ivan Kolonatai, deputy commander colonel. 

Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson of the military group responsible for Kharkiv oblast, confirmed Russian advances on the Vovchansk axis on Dec. 4. He added that Vovchansk itself is completely destroyed and Russian troops are trying to get a foothold on its ruins. 

Kolontay said that Russian forces tried to attack Vovchanski Khutory from the direction of the oil extraction plant (in Vovchansk — ed.). After advancing about 100 meters, Russian troops on ATVs got stuck in engineering barriers, after which they “were destroyed by mortar fire and artillery.”

The 16th Army’s corps said that Vovchanski Khutori remained under full control of the Ukrainian forces. They added that in certain areas of the Vovchansk axis Ukraine’s assault and reconnaissance operations are ongoing.  

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