On Tuesday, Russia initiated tactical nuclear drills in its southern military district near Ukraine, responding to what it described as “Western threats.”
Concurrently, Russian forces from the northern units achieved significant advances into Ukrainian defenses, progressing towards Kharkiv and nearby towns.
Russian control now extends to 40% of Vovchansk as forces move towards the Vovcha River.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that these exercises are meant to test the readiness of its non-strategic nuclear weapons to ensure the safety and sovereignty of the Russian state.
This action follows provocative statements and threats from certain Western officials.
Amid the ongoing retreat of Ukrainian forces, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported improvements in their positions across most combat fronts. Ukrainian forces have suffered about 1,660 casualties over the past 24 hours.
Kharkiv Governor Vitaly Ganchev noted that Russian forces now control nearly half of Vovchansk, a city near the Russian border, which has become the focal point of the ongoing battles.
Russian forces have deeply penetrated Ukrainian defenses and pushed them back significantly, with the northern part of the city now fully liberated.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, emphasizing the urgent need for additional air defense systems to counter Russian bombardments in the Kharkiv region.
Baerbock’s visit followed a new wave of explosive drone attacks on Kharkiv and other areas in Ukraine. Upon her arrival in the Ukrainian capital, she highlighted the significant deterioration of the situation in Ukraine due to intensified Russian airstrikes on civilian infrastructure and the ongoing offensive in the Kharkiv region.
She stressed the critical need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense to protect against the barrage of Russian missiles and drones.
In response to Baerbock’s comments, the Kremlin argued that supplying Ukraine with additional Western weapons would not alter the situation on the ground.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that even with more weapons, the Ukrainian armed forces would not be able to change the dynamics of the front lines.
The ongoing conflict has caused significant displacement. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that more than 14,000 people have been displaced in the Kharkiv region due to the relentless fighting.
Jarno Habicht, the WHO representative in Ukraine, noted that around 189,000 others live within 25 kilometers of the Russian border, facing severe risks.
