The governor of Kharkiv, Oleh Sinyekhubov, announced today that an evacuation order was issued for ten other communities due to the advance of Russian troops in the area.

As Sinyekhubov explained to Ukrainian TV, Russian artillery is constantly pounding settlements near the Borova community on the east bank of the Oskil River.

From September 10, approx 6,500 people have been removed from their homes, including 500 children, explained the governor of Kharkiv.

Evacuation orders have also been issued for communities on the outskirts of the city of Kupyansk, further north.

The area had fallen into the hands of Russian forces a few weeks after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but was liberated five months later.

In recent weeks, Moscow’s forces have been slowly advancing towards Kupyansk, a strategically important rail hub.

A second key target for Russian forces is Pokrovsk, further south in the Donetsk region.