KHARKIV, UKRAINE, May 14 — During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that two additional Patriot air defense systems are necessary to defend the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast, reported European Pravda.

“Air defense is the biggest deficit for us and the biggest problem. Currently, we really need two Patriots for Kharkiv and the region, as people there are under attack and are very worried about it,” Zelenskyy said.

The President noted that Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems are needed to protect the civilian population of the Kharkiv region from constant Russian missile attacks and airstrikes.

In his turn, Blinken assured that the military assistance agreed upon by the United States is already on its way to Ukraine, and some additional air defense equipment will be delivered in the near future. According to him, this assistance will be crucial for Ukraine’s success in countering Russia’s aggression.

On May 10, Russia launched a new ground offensive north and northeast of the Kharkiv region. The border communities came under heavy Russian shelling and air strikes with heavy glide bombs. 

As reported by the Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov, in just the past day, more than 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. The Russian shelling killed one person and injured 13 others.

Evacuation is currently underway in the region. The police and volunteers go door-to-door and help people to leave the border towns and villages. As of this morning, 7,023 people have been evacuated from the dangerous areas close to the frontline in the Kharkiv region.

Threat of reoccupation looms over Vovchansk as Russia launches new offensive on Kharkiv region. Gwara Media joined the evacuation mission on May 11 to talk to people who were leaving and staying in Vovchansk in the wake of the Russian assault on the city.   

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  • 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.
  • On May 13, at about 4:34 p.m., the Russian military attacked a farm in Korotych, Kharkiv district, injuring four people and killing one, reported Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov.