The army of Ukraine announced this Thursday morning that managed to stop Russia’s “advance”. in some areas in the province of Kharkiv, against which Moscow launched surprise attack on May 10, occupying new territories.

“The situation in the Kharkiv sector remains complicated,” but “our defense forces have managed to partially stabilize the situation, the advance of the enemy in some areas has been halted,” said Nazar Volokhin, a spokesman for the Ukrainian forces.

The Russian army is “still trying to create the conditions for a new advance,” he added.

As for Vovchansk, a city of about 18,000 inhabitantsAhead of the war, which is one of Moscow’s main targets at the moment, Ukrainian forces are “carefully checking” buildings in the northern part of the city, where street fighting has taken place in recent days, Volokhin explained.

The Ukrainian army is “trying to stabilize the situation, inflict casualties and prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold. (Ukrainian) counter-attacks are underway,” he added.

Popular Ukrainian military blogger Yuri Butusov stated that “the Russian offensive in the northern province of Kharkiv has been effectively halted.”

“Russian strike groups have suffered losses, but they have not yet been neutralized and the fighting continues,” he added on Facebook late Wednesday.

According to Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Sinekhubov, some 8,779 people have been displaced from their homes. About 15 were injured in shelling in the area.

AFP reports that, based on its analysis compiled from data from the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Russian military has over a week occupied 278 square kilometers in eastern Ukraine, mainly in Kharkiv province.

These are the biggest territorial gains which the Russian army has recorded for a year and a half.

Besides, the Sergei Shoigu reappeared today in his new capacity. The former Minister of Defense and Secretary of the Security Council of Russia claimed that the Russian army was advancing in all directions in Ukraine.