UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, June 5 — The Russian army is trying to hold on to its positions in Vovchansk and is destroying Ukrainian military observation posts and strongholds with guided aerial bombs.

Vitalii Lytvyn, an officer of the intelligence department of the Rubizh Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, told Svoboda.Live about the situation in Vovchansk.

“The enemy is waging a war like the one in Mariupol, Bakhmut, and Rubizhne [Ukrainian cities destroyed by Russians — ed.]. In other words, the enemy is destroying and making life in the city impossible,” Lytvyn said.

On May 10, Russia launched a new ground offensive north and northeast of the Kharkiv region, in the Vovchansk and Lyptsi directions. Ukrainian military and local authorities report that the Armed Forces stabilized the frontline since then, and now heavy fighting is ongoing in the region.  

Vitalii Lytvyn noted that the Russian army destroyed Vovchansk, so people have nowhere to return to. They destroyed 50% to 80% of the city’s housing, which cannot be restored, according to DeepState analysts.

Lytvyn said there is a chance of liberating the city and some other temporarily occupied territories of the Kharkiv region. Still, he advised civilians to leave the border settlements, as the Russian army is constantly attacking the border.

As Kharkiv Oblast Governor Ohel Syniehubov reported, Russia has dropped about 300 guided bombs (KABs) on Vovchansk since the beginning of a new offensive in the north of the Kharkiv region.

Evacuation is currently underway in the region. According to Oleh Syniehubov, police, volunteers, and rescuers evacuated about 11,629 people from the border communities of Kharkiv Oblast. 

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