Security

Zelenskyy: Ukraine achieving 'tangible' results in northeast

'In the Kharkiv region, our forces are destroying the occupier,' said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 92nd Assault Brigade fire a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher toward Russian positions, in Kharkiv province, on May 15, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [Roman Pilipey/AFP]
Ukrainian servicemen of the 92nd Assault Brigade fire a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher toward Russian positions, in Kharkiv province, on May 15, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [Roman Pilipey/AFP]

By AFP |

KYIV -- Ukrainian troops are achieving "tangible" results against Russian forces in the hotspot Kharkiv region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said May 21.

Russia launched a fresh assault on Kharkiv on May 10 and has since captured several small settlements in its biggest advance in 18 months.

"In the Kharkiv region, our forces are destroying the occupier; the results are tangible," Zelenskyy said in his evening address.

But he warned the situation on the eastern front near the cities of Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk and Kurakhove remained "extremely difficult."

Local residents inspect the remains of their destroyed house after a Russian drone attack in the suburbs of Kharkiv, on May 21. [Sergey Bobok/AFP]
Local residents inspect the remains of their destroyed house after a Russian drone attack in the suburbs of Kharkiv, on May 21. [Sergey Bobok/AFP]

"Most of the battles are going on there now," he said.

A Ukrainian military spokesman told state media that fighting in the border territories "remains difficult and is changing dynamically."

But he also said the number of bouts with Russian forces had decreased.

Zelenskyy warned last week that the Russian offensive in Kharkiv might be only a "first wave" and that Russian troops could be aiming for Kharkiv city, Ukraine's second largest.

Drone barrage

Moscow announced earlier this month that its forces stationed near Ukraine would conduct tactical nuclear weapon drills, without giving a clear date.

The Defense Ministry May 21 said that the drills would test the "readiness" of its "non-strategic nuclear weapons... to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state."

They come in "response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials," the ministry added.

Just before Baerbock arrived, the Ukrainian air force said it had intercepted 28 of 29 Iranian-designed attack drones launched by Russian forces overnight over southern and eastern regions of the country.

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