ERR in the Kharkiv region: Russia hits even seasoned residents

The ongoing Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region of northern Ukraine has come as a shock to many Ukrainians. Many believe that the apparent success of Russian forces so far is largely due to the lack of sufficient defensive structures in the region.

Residents of the border town of Vovchans’k in the Kharkiv region are used to strikes. However, on May 10, they were forced to flee their home.

Tamaz Gambashvili, mayor of Vovchans’k, a small town 70 kilometers northeast of the city of Kharkiv, told ERR: “This type of bombing was unexpected.”

“Even residents accustomed to daily bombings were shocked by such an attack on residential buildings and infrastructure. The fire was so intense that people were unable to leave the city for several hours,” he said. for follow-up.

By mid-May, Ukrainian forces managed to stop the enemy’s advance.

The head of the Kharkiv region, Roman Synyhubov, said that the enemy “exhausted its resources, but brought reserves and continued the offensive. So we will see what happens next. Our task on this front is to neutralize as much enemy equipment and personnel as possible.

Defensive structures in the Kharkiv region, such as trenches, could, if not completely stop, at least hinder the advance of Russian forces.

Some of them could have been built by the army, others by the Kharkiv regional administration.

Synyhubov said: “The border zone, or the first line of defense, is the responsibility of the military. They build their own defensive structures and shelters there. Our responsibility begins with the third line of defense, which is approximately 10 kilometers from the front. “.

Roman Semenukha, deputy head of the Kharkiv region, said: “I can confirm that the work is underway.”

“Of course, there are areas where things are very dangerous, because they are constantly hit by aerial projectiles. It is clear that it is difficult to work there. Of course, one must ask directly how we are behind in these responsible places,” Semenukha continued.

But how long will Ukrainian forces be able to resist the Russian offensive?

Synyhubov said: “We will wait and see. We cannot pretend that all forces stationed across the border will attack us. It seems, however, that June will be a difficult and intense month for us.”

For the mayor of Vovchansk, the past month has already been difficult and intense, as he found out two weeks ago when he was injured while helping to evacuate people from the city .

“There were about 50 to 60 people. Volunteers, police, journalists and ordinary residents hoping to escape. Everyone was waiting for transportation. Then the enemy struck, but fortunately most did not “Were not injured, only the doctors and myself,” Gambashvili said. said.

At least five people were killed in a Russian strike on a building in Kharkiv overnight Thursday, while the United States gave Kiev the green light to use its weapons to strike inside Russia, for defensive purposes.

ERR’s Anton Aleksejev and Kristjan Svirgsden have been reporting regularly from the front lines in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began more than two years ago.

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