By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia is trying to widen the front line in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region by attacking in small groups in new areas, the region’s governor said on Monday.
“There is an increase in the gray area, an increase in the front line, because the enemy is trying to deliberately stretch it, attacking in small groups in new directions,” Oleh Synyehubov said on the country’s national telethon United News.
Expressing that Ukrainian forces have recently repulsed 15 Russian attacks, Synyehubov said that “absolutely all” Russian attacks are being repelled even though the situation is “quite difficult.”
He further said the situation is “fully controlled by the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."
Synyehubov also said that evacuations in the region are ongoing, with 5,700 people having already been evacuated and 1,600 more are planned for today.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said last Friday that Russian forces attempted to break through the country’s defenses in the Kharkiv region, opening a new front in the over two-year-long conflict that is focused in the country’s east and south.