Situation in Kharkiv region: Ukrainian forces pushing Russian troops out of “gray zone”

He shared this information on the Espreso TV channel.

“As of today, the situation has stabilized. At midnight, the occupation Russian forces stopped their so-called offensive. The Ukrainian defense forces began to drive them out of the gray zone, which they had almost occupied yesterday. We are talking about the villages of Strilecha, Krasne, Pylyne, and Borysivka of the Lyptsi community. 

Our servicemen who are defending this territory report from different sides that the situation is under control. Now they continue to drive the Russian occupiers out of this gray zone. These settlements are located right next to the border line. The Russians did not make much effort to occupy them. They came in and declared the territory as if it were theirs. In fact, it is a gray zone. The Ukrainian military will deal with the enemy forces that have entered there,” he said.

The main goal of the Russian offensive is to constrain Ukrainian forces and divert them from important frontline areas, Skoryk said.

“The purpose of the offensive format that the occupiers launched yesterday is actually to restrain Ukrainian forces and distract them from something special. In particular, according to our military, it is the area of Chasiv Yar and Donetsk region, where the Russians are conducting intense fighting. Today they are restraining our forces so that we can redeploy the Ukrainian Armed Forces from those areas,” he said.

According to the official, yesterday there was one of the longest air raid alerts in Kharkiv region. Tonight there were two hits.

“The air raid alert for Kharkiv and the region was announced at 09:03 on May 10. It lasted 13 hours and 18 minutes. Last night there were two hits, at 02:47 and 03:00 the missiles struck the city. There are constant explosions and alarms here because of the guided bombs used by the Russians on the territory of Lyptsi and Vovchansk communities,” the regional council deputy said.

People are being evacuated from Vovchansk and nearby settlements, he said.

“Kharkiv residents, residents of the region expected an attack. The evacuation of the population was announced in the Vovchansk territorial community. There is constant shelling with MLRS, Grad, Tornadoes, mortars and artillery. The town has almost no intact buildings, it is impossible to live there,” added Skoryk.

• At 11:00 p.m. on May 10, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that defensive battles are currently underway in Kharkiv region. Counterattacks continue in the directions of Lyptsi and Vovchansk. The enemy is using infantry and equipment. 

• On May 11, the Atesh guerrilla movement reported that Russian troops refused to attack Kharkiv.