14,000 displaced from Ukraine's Kharkiv region in 2 weeks due to heavy clashes, says WHO

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Over 14,000 people have been displaced from Ukraine's Kharkiv region in the last two weeks as clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces have intensified, the World Health Organization's representative in Ukraine Jarno Habicht claimed on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, which was live-streamed from Kyiv, Habicht said the Ukrainian local authorities have provided the figures.

Nearly 189,000 more still living within 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of the Russian Federation border, facing significant risks due to the ongoing fighting, the official noted.

He said due to the "worsening security situation, humanitarian needs in the region are growing, and growing fast."

In a separate statement posted on Telegram, the head of the Kharkiv region military administration, Oleh Sinehubov, said the authorities are still evacuating civilians, with over 10,700 people transported from areas close to the frontline in 11 days.

On May 10, Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced the transfer of reserve units from its armed forces to the Volchansk direction in the Kharkiv region, while local authorities asked residents to evacuate the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that combat operations in Kharkiv region are aimed at establishing a "sanitary zone" - a buffer area from which Ukrainian strikes cannot reach Russian territory.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the combat situation in the Kharkiv region as "extremely difficult" and met with his military chiefs to discuss possible actions.