Ukraine says it has stopped the Russian ground offensive in the eastern Kharkiv region. “The Ukrainian Defense Forces have stopped Russian forces in the Kharkiv region and are launching counterattacks,” the Ukrainian military said in online services today. A representative of the General Staff described the situation as “difficult” but “stable and under control.”

Army Commander Oleksandr Sirsky had previously stated that the Russian army's advance in the region in northeastern Ukraine had stopped. In the street fighting around the border town of Vovchansk, “the forces coming from Moscow were completely lost and suffered very heavy losses among the assault units,” Sersky explained on the Internet.

He added that Russia is currently deploying “reserves from different regions” to try to seize the city, but to no avail.

Zelensky in Kharkiv

The Ukrainian state railway company once again reported a series of Russian attacks on railway infrastructure around Kharkiv. Rails, carriages and buildings were said to be damaged. “The enemy continues to make targeted attempts to stop the railway line in the Kharkiv region,” the company said on Telegram.

In light of the attacks in the region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to the city. “Today I am in Kharkiv,” Zelensky explained on the X program. There he led meetings on defending the region and restoring the badly damaged energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, according to Army Commander Sirsky, the Ukrainian armed forces are under increasing pressure on the front in Donbass in the east of the country. He added that fighting near the towns of Chasev Yar, Pokrovsk and Korakhovi was particularly “violent.” According to Moscow's own statements, it has achieved a number of advances there over the past two weeks.