Russia makes new progress –

VOVCHANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces have seized 5 cities as a part of their new floor marketing campaign in northeastern Ukraine, Moscow’s Protection Ministry mentioned Saturday.

Ukrainian journalists reported the day earlier than that Russian troops had captured Borisivka, Ohirtseve, Pilna and Strilecha, that are positioned in a militarily disputed “grey zone” on the border between the Kharkov area, in Ukraine, and Russia.

Russian officers introduced the seize of one other city, Pletenivka, in an offensive that Ukrainian authorities say has pressured greater than 1,700 civilians to flee.

Artillery, mortars and aerial bombardments hit greater than 30 cities and left at the very least three lifeless and 5 wounded, defined the governor, Oleh Siniehubov.

Ukraine despatched reinforcements to the province the day earlier than yesterday to repel the Russian try to breach native defenses, authorities mentioned.

kyiv’s troops additionally launched a barrage of drones and missiles the night time earlier than final, in response to Russia’s Protection Ministry, which mentioned its air defenses shot down 21 projectiles and 16 drones over the provinces of Belgorod, Kursk and Volgograd.

One individual was killed in a drone strike in Belgorod and one other in Kursk, native officers mentioned.

One other assault set fireplace to an oil depot within the Ukrainian area of Luhansk, occupied by Russia, killing 4 folks and injuring eight extra, Leonid Pasechnik, the area’s Moscow-based chief, reported yesterday on the Telegram messaging software.

One other assault set fireplace to an oil depot in Ukraine’s Luhansk area, occupied by Kremlin forces, inflicting 4 deaths and eight accidents, Leonid Pasechnik, the area’s Moscow-appointed chief, added yesterday on the Telegram messaging app.

Russian troops intensified their bombing of Kharkov, the nation’s second-largest metropolis, in late March.

Yesterday’s assault marked a tactical change by Moscow that Ukrainian authorities had been ready for for weeks.

Have a look

Safety zone

Russian navy bloggers indicated that the assault would mark the start of efforts to ascertain a safety zone that Vladimir Putin promised to create earlier this yr to cease Ukrainian assaults on Belgorod and different border areas.

Petition to allies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russian forces had been increasing their operations and known as on allies to make sure that promised support deliveries would attain the entrance strains quickly.

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