Amid the ongoing Russian offensive in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, Ukraine is replacing the commander-in-chief of the army in that sector, Reuters news agency reports. The appointment of Brigadier General Mychajlo Drapatyj as the new commander in the region was decided on Saturday, the military told the RBC-Ukraine news portal on Monday. No reason was given.
Russian troops launched a new offensive in the border region on Friday and tried to advance towards the town of Lyptsi and the city of Vovchansk. Since then, they say they have taken control of nine Ukrainian villages. The Ukrainian military spoke of a difficult situation. The General Staff on Monday acknowledged “tactical successes” by the Russian armed forces in the Kharkiv region, which suffered heavy losses. The Russian army has deployed “up to five battalions” into the contested area.
Russian soldiers on the outskirts of Vovchansk
Heavy fighting was reported mainly in the area around the city of Vovchansk, which is a good five kilometers from the Russian border. According to police reports, Russian soldiers have already advanced to the outskirts of the city. More than 30 towns in the Kharkiv region were “hit by enemy artillery and mortar fire” on Monday, Governor Oleh Synehubow said in online networks. The entire border area around Kharkiv is under Russian fire “almost around the clock.” In the past few days, more than 5,700 people from the region have been brought to safety.
Major Russian attack on the border region near Kharkiv
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
According to the Telegram channel “Deepstate”, which is close to the Ukrainian army, the Russian army has already captured an area of around one hundred square kilometers during its offensive. “The enemy continues to advance on Vovchansk, he is gaining a foothold on the outskirts of the city in order to penetrate further into the city,” it said.
It is estimated that around 500 civilians are still in Vovchansk. Police continue to bring residents to safety, said Kharkiv region police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko. Vovchansk is being attacked from three sides.
Zelensky calls the situation “extremely difficult”
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of “fierce fighting” in the region. The Russian military’s goal is to “disperse our forces and undermine morale.” The situation around Vovchansk is “extremely difficult”.
An old woman is brought out of a village near Kharkiv Image: SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA
Army chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on Sunday that “attempts to break through our defenses have been stopped.” However, he acknowledged that the situation in the Kharkiv region had “deteriorated significantly” and remained “complicated.” The Ukrainian armed forces “are doing everything they can to maintain their defensive lines and inflict damage on the enemy,” Syrsky emphasized.
Army chief Oleksandr Syrsky on a visit to the frontImage: Ukrainian Armed Forces via AFP
Moscow has attempted to seize the border region of Kharkiv since its invasion began in February 2022; In the fall of 2022, the Russian army had to largely withdraw from there. But like everywhere on the front, in this region since the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, it is the Russian armed forces that are currently on the advance.
Putin is changing the power structure in the Kremlin
More than two years after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has fired his defense minister and close confidante Sergei Shoigu. The 68-year-old has been defense minister since 2012. An official reason for the dismissal was not given. Shoigu’s successor is to be the previous deputy prime minister, Andrei Beloussov, as the upper house of the Russian parliament announced.
The replaced Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (archive image)Image: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/dpa/picture alliance
Shoigu’s replacement came as no surprise, but it is the most explosive personnel change at the start of Putin’s fifth term in office. Shoigu is now to become secretary of the National Security Council; Nikolai Patrushev has previously held this position. Patrushev’s new assignment will be announced shortly, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
New attacks on Russian energy facilities
Meanwhile, according to defense sources in Kiev, Ukraine attacked a fuel depot and an electrical substation in western Russia with drones. Accordingly, it was an action by the Ukrainian domestic secret service SBU. Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov said an electrical substation had burst into flames.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow had previously reported the downing of 31 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the annexed Crimean peninsula. According to authorities, 15 people were killed in a Ukrainian air strike in the Russian city of Belgorod on Sunday. Russia and Ukraine have expanded attacks on each other’s energy sites in recent weeks.
kle/gri (rtr, afp, dpa)