Russia widens Kharkiv front with small assault groups

KYIV, May 13

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Russia pressed its ground assault into the north of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday, attacking new areas with small groups to try to widen the front and stretch Ukrainian forces, the regional governor said.

Moscow’s troops entered Ukraine near its second largest city of Kharkiv on Friday, opening a new, northeastern front in a war that has for almost two years been largely fought in the east and south. The advance could draw some of Kyiv’s depleted forces away from the east, where Russia has been slowly advancing.

“The enemy is trying to deliberately stretch it (the front line), attacking in small groups, but in new directions, so to speak,” Governor Oleh Syniehubov said in televised comments.

Russia said on Sunday it had captured nine villages in the Kharkiv region. On Monday it said the troops had improved their positions. — Reuters