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The Russian army is developing offensive in the Kharkiv region. Russian assault groups crossed the border and are advancing in five areas, including near the villages of Glubokoe, Lukyantsy, Neskuchnoe in the Liptsy direction, and the town of Volchanks located to the east.
In total, the Russian army took control of up to 200 square kilometers of the border areas. On May 11 and 12 the Russian Ministry of Defense officially confirmed that the units of the North group of forces took control of the settlements of Borisovka, Ogurtsovo, Pletenevka, Pylnaya, Strelechye, Gatyshche, Krasnoe, Morokhovets and Oleinikovo in the Kharkiv region. In its daily briefing on May 13, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that “units of the North group of forces improved the tactical situation and defeated the manpower and equipment of units of the 125th Air Defense Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Volchansk, Neskuchnoye, Liptsy and Vesyolye in the Kharkiv region.”
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The Russian army continues to advance and liberates more and more settlements. By the morning of May 13, reports from the front claimed Russian control of the villages of Lukyantsy and Zelenoe. In this direction, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have advanced to Neskuchnoye located to the northeast of Kharkov.
“In addition, five counterattacks by the AFU assault groups were repelled in the areas of the settlements of Glubokoe and Tikhoe in the Kharkiv region.
The enemy’s losses during the day amounted to up to 250 soldiers, two tanks, two armored combat vehicles and 17 vehicles.
During the counter-battery struggle, the following were hit: 152-mm howitzer Msta-B, 122-mm self-propelled artillery installation Gvozdika, 122-mm howitzer D-30, launchers of the Buk-M1 and Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as four MLRS combat vehicles, including including: “Hurricane”, “Vampire” of Czech production and RAK-SA-12 of Croatian production,” – the Russian MoD reported.
Ukrainian servicemen retreat in the area of Volchansk:
In recent days, Russian forces approached and launched assault on the main stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the first line of defense in the Kharkiv region, the town of Volchansk.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the beginning of the battle for Volchansk. According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian Armed Forces launched assault on the town with the forces of five battalions and “have a tactical success.” At the same time, the Ukrainian General Staff noted that the AFU has begun deploying its reinforcement in an attempt to improve the situation.
Massively pounding the Ukrainian military with heavy aerial bombs and shelling Ukrainian military with artillery, the North group of Russian forces surrounded Volchansk from several directions, including east, north and west.
As a result of successful offensive operations from their stronghold in the villages of Pletnevka and Gatische, Russian forces entered Volchansk from the northwestern direction and gained a foothold at the meat processing plant on Slobozhanskaya Street. The Volchansk meat processing plant was turned by Ukrainians into a fortified stronghold. This facility was of strategic importance for the entire Ukrainian defense because Ukrainian forces could establish the fire control of the surrounding areas from there.
The local field airfield located on the outskirts also came under the Russian control. Clashes are ongoing in the residential quarters nearby. Ukrainian forces are holding control of the local stadium and the railway station but they are unlikely to hold defense for long because there are no solid military fortifications.
Some additional forces of the defending Ukrainian units were reportedly deployed in the area on the western bank of the Volchya River last night, where they took a foothold in some buildings; but according to preliminary data, the number of Ukrainian reinforcement deployed there is too small to contain the offensive of Russian troops.
The forest areas and fields to the north of Volchansk have been completely moped up and have come under the control of Russian troops.
Russian drones strikes in the area:
At the same time, Russian forces are approaching the town of Volchansk from the eastern direction. They gained control of the village of Tikhoe located nearby and are already launching assault operations on the eastern streets of Volchansk.
According to preliminary reports, the battles have reached the central part of the city but they are yet to be confirmed.
The pace of Russian advance threatens the Ukrainian garrison in Volchansk with the pincer encirclement. Russian troops are advancing very rapidly on the streets of the town. There is no doubt that Volchansk may be liberated by the Russian army in the coming days despite the attempts of the Ukrainian military command to transfer large reinforcements to its southern outskirts and the villages nearby. The main forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine seem to be concentrating in the area of the T-2104 highway to Bely Kolodez, awaiting the entry of additional forces of the Russian army into the battle.
After the liberation of Volchansk, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will pave the way for further offensive deep into the Kharkiv region. Amid the ongoing advance in other directions in the region, the front may soon be straightened along the Volchansk-Ternovaya-Liptsy line.
