Battles rage for 5 villages north of Kharkiv and Vovchansk, Russia says they are captured

As of 1 p.m., the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the alleged complete takeover of the Ukrainian border settlements of Borysivka, Ogirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna, and Strilecha in Kharkiv region.

The Ukrainian side names the same 5 villages and says that fighting for them is still ongoing, but in the format of defense and counterattacks.

The villages of Strilecha, Pylna and Borysivna are located to the north of Kharkiv.

Ogirtseve and Pletenivka are located north of the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region.

As the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, emphasized during a briefing at noon on May 11, fighting continues for the settlements of Pylna, Strilecha, Borysivka, Ogirtseve, and Oliynykove. According to him, the situation is under control, the enemy has advanced a maximum of 3-5 km from the border line.

The “gray zone” has not increased. The frontline has stabilized. There are fierce fighting for the settlements I mentioned,” Kharkiv-based portal Dumka quoted Syniehubov as saying.

Syniehubov added that the military recorded attempts by the subversive groups to move in other directions, in particular, in the area of Kozacha Lopan, but they were stopped. Currently, there is no such activity.

According to the head of Kharkiv region, there is currently no need to evacuate the regional center.

The situation in Borysivka, Ogirtseve, Pletenivka, Pylna, Strilecha in Kharkiv region after 12:00 on Saturday, May 11, was commented on the air of the United News TV marathon by Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops.

“The enemy is currently localized, the ‘gray zone’ is not expanding. However, there are issues to completely destroy and catch the enemy in those forest areas where they could infiltrate and hide,” ArmyInform quoted Voloshyn as saying.

Earlier in the day, military journalist Yuriy Butusov said the Defense Forces of Ukraine stopped the advance of Russian occupation troops at the 2-5 km from the Ukrainian-Russian border.

Battles with occupying Russian forces in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region

On May 10, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that the Russian occupation army had intensified attacks in the northern sector. Around 5 a.m., the enemy tried to break through the Ukrainian defense in the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian Defense Forces met the invading forces with fire.

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

On May 10, 1,775 civilians were evacuated from the districts of Kharkiv region that are constantly under intense Russian fire.

Subsequently, the Atesh guerrilla movement reported that the Russian military refused to attack Kharkiv. The Russian occupation troops also began to apply new tactical signs to their vehicles, probably denoting a group operating in the north of Kharkiv region.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that Russian offensive operations along the border in Kharkiv region are likely to have a strategic goal of drawing and consolidating Ukrainian forces on this axis to enable Russian advance into other areas of eastern Ukraine.