PUTIN has launched a surprise ground invasion near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv – smashing open a new front in the war.
Russian forces pounded the town of Vovchansk with guided aerial bombs and artillery as Volodymyr Zelensky said a “fierce battle” is taking place.
GettyA fire at the site of a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv today[/caption]
Vlad has reportedly amassed 40,000 troops and some 500 tanks in the border region.
Ukraine has rushed in reinforcements to hold off Russia’s attempt to breach defences, the defence ministry said.
The ministry said: “At approximately 5am, there was an attempt by the enemy to break through our defensive line under the cover of armoured vehicles.
“As of now, these attacks have been repulsed; battles of varying intensity continue.”
A senior Ukrainian military source said Russian forces had pushed 1km inside the Ukrainian border near Vovchansk.
The source said Russian forces were aiming to push Ukrainian troops as far back as 10km inside Ukraine as part of an effort to create a buffer zone – but Kyiv’s troops were trying to hold them back.
The surprise invasion is thought to be tactical switch by Moscow that Ukrainian officials have been expecting for weeks as the war stretches into its third year.
Zelensky told a press conference in Kyiv that Ukrainian forces were prepared for the fight – but said Moscow could send more troops to the area.
In 2022, Ukraine chased Russian troops out of most of the Kharkiv region following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February that year.
But after weathering a Ukrainian counteroffensive last year, Russian forces are back on the offensive and slowly advancing in the Donetsk region that lies further south.
In March, Vlad called for the creation of a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory “to protect Russia” – sparking concerns over the Kremlin’s intentions in the Kharkiv region.
Since then, Kharkiv has been battered by air strikes, damaging the region’s power infrastructure.
More to follow.