A massive Russian attack on eastern Ukraine and Kiev: We are fighting to prevent Moscow's advance

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that Russia had begun a ground attack in the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, and that battles were taking place there between the two sides.

The ministry stated in a statement that Russian forces carried out "over the past day, air strikes in the Vovchansk sector" adjacent to the Russian Belgorod region, with guided air bombs, noting that they are confronting "these attacks, and the battles continue with varying intensity."

The ministry confirmed that these attacks were “repelled,” the fighting continued, and “reserve units” were deployed with the aim of “strengthening defense” in the region.

For his part, a Ukrainian military source, who requested anonymity, said that Russian forces aim to advance to about ten kilometers from the Russian border, and that Kiev forces are fighting to prevent Moscow's advance.

A high-ranking source in the Ukrainian military leadership said that Moscow forces "penetrated one kilometer into Ukrainian territory," stressing that they are trying to establish a "buffer zone" in Kharkiv to prevent Ukrainian forces from bombing Russian territory.

The new Russian attack opens a new front for fighting, more than two years after the Russian attack on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army is facing difficulties on the battlefront, as it has been weakened by a shortage of recruits and delays in the delivery of Western aid, which has led to a decline in its ammunition stock, while Russian forces have made field gains, especially in the east.