NewsBattle for Vovchansk: Relentless destruction and defiant resistance

Battle for Vovchansk: Relentless destruction and defiant resistance

Recording from Wołczańska. A post-apocalyptic view.
Recording from Wołczańska. A post-apocalyptic view.
Images source: © NEXTA
Malwina Witkowska

24 May 2024 04:54

The battle for Vovchansk is still ongoing. The Russians are trying to take over the city, but Ukrainian soldiers are not giving up. After intense bombardment, Vovchansk has been nearly levelled. The recording shows the terrifying scale of destruction.

In the early morning of May 10th, the Russians launched a violent attack on the Kharkiv region. As a result of the massive offensive, Russian forces rapidly took the border villages, reaching Vovchansk. The sudden and brutal attack highlighted the volatility and unpredictability of the frontline situation.

The Russian aggressors continue to attack the city mercilessly. The once 20,000 population of Vovchansk is now reduced to ruins.

The Ukrainian city of Vovchansk was destroyed by Russian invaders – wrote the Nexta news portal, sharing a video showing the scale of destruction.

Vovchansk levelled. Recording circulates online

Most of the buildings in the city were destroyed by Russian artillery and bombs dropped from airplanes. As seen in the shared recording, Vovchansk has been nearly levelled. Smoke still rises above the city.

The scale of destruction is immense. Ruins of houses, buildings, and destroyed streets attest to the intensity of the attacks. Residents who once led peaceful lives here now face indescribable loss. Many civilians were evacuated. "Around 100 people remain in the city," - reported the Ukrainian agency UNIAN.

The fight for Vovchansk continues

The Ukrainian city of Vovchansk, located just 5 kilometres from the Russian border, has become a strategic target for Russian forces. The Russians expected to take the city within a few days but encountered strong resistance.

According to "Gazeta Wyborcza," the capture of Vovchansk is important for the Russians because it would allow them to move further southeast—to the village of Bilyi Kolodyaz. From there, they could advance to the rear of the Ukrainian forces defending the eastern part of the Kharkiv region. Securing Vovchansk would give the Russians an operational advantage in the region, which could significantly impact the course of the conflict.

Vovchansk was previously under Russian occupation. The city was taken on the first day of the invasion - February 24th, 2022. However, during the Ukrainian offensive in the fall of the same year, Vovchansk was liberated. Now, it has again become the target of intense attacks.

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