Ukraine says Russia is trying to break through its defenses in the northeastern Kharkiv region
By ILLIA NOVIKOV
Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has rushed reinforcements to its northeastern Kharkiv region to hold off a Russian attempt to breach local defenses. It’s a tactical switch in the war that Kyiv officials have been expecting for weeks. Officials said Friday that intense nighttime shelling targeted Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region and less than 5 kilometers or 3 miles from the Russian border. The barrage prompted authorities to begin the evacuation of about 3,000 people. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said that around dawn Russian forces tried to pierce the Ukrainian defenses near Vovchansk. The ministry added that it had deployed reserve units to fend off the attack.