Russia’s army has stepped up its offensive on a new axis – east of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region

Russian forces have stepped up attacks in the border zone of the Velykyi Burluk district of Kharkiv region, east of Vovchansk.

Yesterday, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have captured the village of Zemlianky and published video from there. Russian military Telegram channels say that not the entire village has been taken, but a large part of it, while fighting continues on the southern outskirts.

Russian media also report fighting in neighboring Budarky and claim that Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from there.

Ukraine has not confirmed the loss of these villages. At the same time, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine yesterday confirmed “active attempts by the enemy to break through the state border in the north of Kharkiv region.”

“The fiercest fighting took place in the areas of Budarky and Zemlianky, where the enemy advanced in small infantry groups with the support of drones and artillery,” the statement said.

The border guards claim that they struck the attacking forces with drones and that Russia lost more than 50 personnel.

According to the Ukrainian Telegram channel Deep State, Zemlianky and Budarky remain under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the approaches to them. According to the State Border Guard Service, fighting is already underway there, meaning that at the very least this is now a gray zone.