The Ukrainian forces are fighting against time, faced with huge shortages, while Russia has launched a fierce counterattack centered on the Kharkiv region.

Russia announced today that it has captured a village near the city of Vovchansk, in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, where the Russian military launched a new offensive last week.

“Units of the northern brigade liberated the village of Staritsa in the Kharkiv region and continue their advance deep into the enemy’s defensive positions,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Russia has gained more territory in 2024 than it lost during Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the summer of 2023, according to Pasi Paroinen, an analyst at the Black Bird Group, a Finland-based volunteer group that analyzes satellite imagery and social media content from the war.

Russian forces have captured 654 square kilometers since the start of the year, surpassing the 414 square kilometers they lost to Ukraine between June 1 and October 1. Russia has gained 222 square kilometers of territory since May 2 alone, according to Reuters.

The Ukrainians leave Kharkiv

Fearing a Russian advance, nearly 10,000 people have fled their homes in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine following a recent ground offensive by Russian forces.

“A total of 9,907 people have been displaced” from their homes, Kharkiv governor Oleg Sinegubov said, more than a week since the offensive by Russian forces, which the Ukrainian president warned could be only the first wave of a much more widespread attack.

The evacuation of residents came after Russian forces managed to advance five to ten kilometers along the northeastern border before Ukrainian forces halted their advance.

Sinegubov noted that Ukraine’s armed forces repelled two attempts to breach their defenses overnight.

The situation is “under control,” he added, noting that “defense forces are conducting offensives and clearing operations in certain zones.”

Russian forces have attacked several areas, including Bovchansk, which is only five kilometers from the border.

“In the area of ​​the city of Vovchansk, Ukrainian forces are strengthening their defenses,” Sinegubov added.

A day earlier, he had said that Russian forces had taken control of Bovchansk and that all but 200 residents had fled because of the fighting.

Russian forces captured 278 square kilometers in the period between May 9 and 15, marking their biggest gain since the end of 2022, according to an AFP calculation based on ISW ​​(Institute for the Study of War) data.

“They launched their business, it can consist of many waves. And let this be their first wave,” said the Ukrainian president in an interview he gave to AFP.