Volchansk besieged: residents flee as street battles escalate
3:07 PM EDT, May 12, 2024
Residents of the Ukrainian city of Volchansk, located right on the border with Russia, are fleeing the approaching enemy. "Street fighting has commenced; the town is becoming surrounded," announced the commander of the reconnaissance unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Denys Yaroslavsky, on Sunday.
On Sunday via Telegram, the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Synehubov informed that the number of towns experiencing active military operations has increased. Ukrainian Defense Forces continue their defensive operations.
He also mentioned that the evacuation of civilians has not stopped. "According to our information, up to 500 people remain in Volchansk," he added.
"Street fighting has commenced; the town is becoming surrounded" reiterated Denys Yaroslavsky, the commander of the reconnaissance unit, earlier on Sunday. "I am stating this because we could perish and the truth may never be heard. Otherwise, what is it all for? There weren't even the first lines of fortifications and mine fields. The enemy entered the grey zone along the entire border line which should not, in principle, have been grey at all!"the soldier expressed, dismayed.
Media outlets are publishing moving images from the evacuation of Volchansk.
"Local residents do not need to be persuaded to leave the city, because those who have experienced the horrors of the occupation will never want to experience it again," reports the Belarusian independent portal Nexta.
"Constant shelling and fear of reoccupation" is how Radio Svoboda describes the situation in Volchansk.
Russian massive attacks
On Sunday morning, the death of a 73-year-old woman was reported by Ukrainians; her body was recovered from the debris of a building hit by shelling in Volchansk. Two men, also trapped under the rubble, were rescued, as reported by local authorities and rescuers.
Russian troops launched an attack on the town of Volchansk with guided air bombs. Ukrainska Pravda portal reports that dozens of houses and apartment blocks were destroyed or damaged.
Over the last 24 hours, two men from Volchansk and the village of Hlyboke also lost their lives.
