Russian forces tighten encirclement of Ukrainian troops in Kharkiv region

The Russian army continues its offensive in the northeast of Kharkiv region: units of the “North” grouping are tightening the encirclement of Ukrainian Armed Forces formations and expanding the outer zone of control.

This was reported by Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

According to the ministry, fighting is currently underway for the liberation of the settlements of Nesternoe, Lukashovo, and Grachyovka. Russian forces have established control over the village of Khripuny. In addition, two attempts by the enemy to break out of the encirclement in the area of Nefedovka were repelled.

The chairman of the presidium of the all-Russian organization “Officers of Russia,” Hero of Russia, Major General Sergei Lipovoy, told aif.ru that the territory will come under Russian army control in the near future.

“Our military is methodically grinding down the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters trapped in the cauldrons. If the enemy ends up in a cauldron, they have no chance of breaking out other than surrendering. But surrendering is forbidden by their command: if they try to raise a white flag, they are shot by their own comrades-in-arms who are in the same cauldron,” he said.

Lipovoy also described the situation of the encircled Ukrainian units as hopeless, saying their days were “numbered.”

“Effectively, a countdown in days is underway — our army is advancing, the cauldrons are shrinking. The entire military potential of the enemy is being ground down. I think seven to ten days at most and these cauldrons will snap shut, and our forces will take full control of the territory. They will be left completely without supplies. They face a lack of ammunition, a lack of food, low morale, and a depressed psychological state. Those who do not manage to surrender will be destroyed,” the major general explained.