- author, James Waterhouse & Paul Kirby
- role, BBC News in Kyiv and London
Ukraine says it has repelled a Russian armored attack in northeast Kharkiv after Moscow's forces launched an incursion across the border and attempted to break through its defense lines.
Kharkiv region chief Oleh Sinievov said Russian reconnaissance troops had attempted to penetrate the border, adding: “Not a meter has been lost.”
“Russia has launched a new counterattack operation in the Kharkov region,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.
Also on Friday, a massive fire broke out at an oil depot in Ukraine's occupied Luhansk region, following an attack on Ukraine by Russian-installed officials. It added that three people were killed in the attack.
Ukrainian commanders had been expecting a summer offensive for some time, perhaps even capturing the regional capital, Kharkov. But officials are adamant that Russia does not have the resources to do so.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Combating Disinformation, said Russia had the ability to escalate the situation in border areas, but did not have the ability to seize Ukraine's second-largest city.
Ukrainian news reports have suggested that Russia is seeking to create a 10-kilometre buffer zone in the Belgorod region following a series of cross-border attacks on Ukraine.
Friday's small-scale incursion on Russia's border forms a familiar but disturbing axis for the Ukrainian military.
The Kiev Ministry of Defense announced that the attack began with heavy bombing of the city of Vovtyansk “using guided aerial bombs” supported by artillery. Small Russian “reconnaissance groups” then reportedly moved across the border to several locations.
The local head of Bobchansk, 75 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Kharkiv, said the town had been under heavy attack since early Friday morning and civilians were being evacuated. Vovtyansk is home to about 3,000 people, and at least one person was killed and five more injured in the barrage, according to a regional leader in Kharkiv.
“Around 5 a.m., there were attempts by the enemy to break through our defense lines by hiding behind armored vehicles. To date, these attacks have been repulsed and fighting of varying intensity continues.” the Ministry of Defense said.
President Zelenskiy said Russian forces were engaged “with our troops, brigades and artillery,” but added that heavy fighting was underway.
Civilians are being evacuated from the Vovtyansk area as reserve forces move in, officials added.
In the occupied Luhansk region, Russian authorities reported that Ukrainian forces attacked the city of Lovenki, killing three people and injuring seven others.
Russia's Ministry of Health said four of the injured were in critical condition.
“The oil depot was engulfed in flames by shelling and nearby houses were damaged,” Leonid Pashechnik, the new Russian governor, wrote on Telegram.
It was the second such attack this week. On Wednesday, another oil depot in the area was attacked, injuring five people.
Ukrainian bloggers and Telegram channels reported Friday's attack and posted photos of the massive fire.
However, no comment was received from Ukrainian authorities.
On Friday, the US announced a new $400m (£319m, €371m) military aid package for Ukraine.
This is Washington's third aid to the country after months of political gridlock and delays. This is in addition to a previous aid package worth $7 billion sent in late April.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced in a statement that the “urgently needed” aid includes air defense ammunition, artillery shells, anti-tank weapons and armored vehicles.
On Friday, the White House released an assessment of the situation, with National Security Press Secretary John Kirby telling reporters that the United States believes Russia will “make further progress in establishing a buffer zone along the border with Ukraine in the coming weeks.” '' he said.
But he said the United States is confident in Ukraine's ability to withstand such an attack and is “working around the clock” to ensure it has all the necessary tools and weapons to do so.
The Russian government is seeking to take advantage of delays in the arrival of American ammunition and weapons by continuing to invade the eastern Donetsk region.
The resurgence of heavy fighting in the northeast is a further sign of Russia's growing confidence and ambition.
The deputy head of Ukraine's Military Intelligence Service, Major General Vadin Skibitsky, told The Economist last week that Russia is preparing for attacks on both Kharkov and the northern region of Sumy. This warning was repeated by the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk.
Tens of thousands of Russian troops are said to have massed on the border.
It may be understandable to see a repeat of 2022, when Russia failed to capture Kharkov and Sumy in the early weeks of a full-scale invasion. Russian forces occupied the border town of Vovchansk for several months before being forced out in September 2022.
At least publicly, officials and generals believe there is no chance of either of the region's two capitals falling.
Neither city could be conquered when Russia had a larger and better trained army than it has now. Ukrainian sources estimate that about 90% of the original 150,000 troops are killed or wounded.
Military commentator Oleksandr Kovalenko said Russia needed about 80,000 troops to capture the small eastern city of Avdiivka in February last year after months of shelling. It is said that large cities such as Sumy and Kharkov were on a completely different scale.
Secondly, Russia is talking about creating a buffer zone between the Belgorod region and Ukraine.
Ukraine's military continues to shell Russian territory, worrying some Western allies.