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Ukraine says it stopped Russian assault on Kharkiv region
Ukraine assured Friday that it had “stopped” the Russian assault on the Kharkiv region, which had been underway for two weeks, and had begun a counterattack in this sector of the northeast of its territory where the president visited Volodymyr Zelensky. After two weeks of fighting, “the Ukrainian defense forces have stopped the Russian troops” and “are carrying out counter-offensive actions”, Colonel Igor Prokhorenko, an official of the General Staff of the Ukrainian army, said on Friday. He described the situation as “difficult” but “stable and under control” in this region where clashes are taking place in particular for control of the city of Vovchansk, cut in two and where kyiv has accused Russian forces of abuses.
The Kremlin prepares for Putin’s visit to North Korea
The Kremlin said on Friday it was preparing a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea, a country accused by the West of supplying Moscow with munitions for its offensive in Ukraine. “President Putin received an invitation to pay an official visit to North Korea. This visit is being prepared. We will announce the dates of this trip in due time,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Ria Novosti. The Russian president received North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Russia in September 2023
Russian forces “bogged down in street fighting” in Vovchansk, says kyiv
Russian forces are “bogged down” in street fighting in the town of Vovchansk, in the Kharkiv region (north-east), the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army said on Friday, also reporting “intense” fighting. ” in three key areas of the Eastern Front. “The enemy is completely bogged down in street fighting in Vovchansk and has suffered very significant losses,” General Oleksandr Syrsky said in a Telegram message, also reporting sustained Russian offensives to try to break through the Ukrainian lines towards Chassiv Yar, Pokrovsk and Kurakhové.
Crocus City Hall attack: Moscow recognizes IS responsibility for the first time
Russia on Friday for the first time clearly recognized the responsibility of the Islamic State (IS) organization in the attack on Crocus City Hall, which left at least 144 dead on March 22, and in which Moscow had pointed out the responsibility of Ukraine. “During the investigation (…), it was established that the preparations, financing, attack and withdrawal of the terrorists were coordinated via the internet by members of the Khorasan Province group”, the Afghan branch of IS, declared the director of the Russian security services (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, quoted by the RIA Novosti agency.
Zelensky says he is in Kharkiv
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that he was in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, the region of which has been the target for two weeks of a Russian offensive launched from the border. “Today I am in Kharkiv,” Volodymyr Zelensky said on X, claiming to have chaired meetings on the defense of the region and the restoration of energy infrastructure heavily damaged by Russian strikes.
Today I am in Kharkiv.
I held a meeting on the regional situation and heating season preparations. I also received updates on defense operations, particularly in the Vovchansk area, as well as the recovery of damaged energy infrastructure.
We paid special attention to the… pic.twitter.com/LwrlHwSLIH
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 24, 2024
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