Ukraine has announced the dismissal of the official responsible for the defense of Kharkiv after Russia’s recent territorial gains in the area.
Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, stated on May 13 that Kyiv had dismissed the commander in charge of defending the front line in Kharkiv following a surprise Russian attack on the region earlier in the week.
Voloshyn told RBC-Ukraine that Kyiv had also decided to appoint Brigadier General Mykhailo Drapatyi on May 11. The Ukrainian military representative did not provide a reason for the dismissal.
This information comes as Russia has recently claimed control of several villages near the border between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers told the BBC that in some areas of Kharkiv, Russia could easily advance without encountering any obstacles because Kyiv entirely lacked a first line of defense, such as minefields.
On May 12, Russia announced it had captured an additional four villages in the Kharkiv region, forcing thousands of local residents to evacuate as the fighting intensified.
Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov stated on May 13 that Russian forces were attacking the northern border area of Ukraine in small groups to stretch the front line.
“Russia is deliberately prolonging the front line, attacking in small groups but in new directions,” Syniehubov said.
He added that Ukrainian forces were holding back the Russian troops, but the fighting still posed a risk of spreading to other settlements.
Regarding the information about the loose defense system in Vovchansk, Kharkiv, Tamaz Gambarashvili, head of the city’s military administration, confirmed that Kyiv had constructed fortifications around the city near the Russian border. However, he admitted that the construction had been very challenging due to frequent Russian attacks.
“Fortifications have been built. And they are still being built and reinforced. But the situation has been extremely difficult because the city itself is very close to the border. It is very difficult to carry out any construction right on the border. I thank the builders and everyone working there in extremely difficult conditions under fire,” he said.
He also acknowledged that the fortifications Ukraine had built “might not be very dense.”
“Everything has been built, but not very densely. Vovchansk has been continuously attacked for more than a year and a half with mortars and artillery. That is why I repeat once again: Vovchansk is 4 km from the border. Building fortifications is extremely difficult,” he emphasized.
Since the beginning of 2024, Ukraine has spent 20 billion UAH (524 million USD) on building fortifications in various areas to halt Russian advances. However, in recent days, Russia has easily controlled several areas, while Ukraine has acknowledged the extremely tense situation in Kharkiv.
