Fighting difficult but under control – Zelensky

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Reuters Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting with top military officials as he visits Kharkiv region, 16 May 2024Reuter

Fighting around the city of Kharkiv, which has seen Russia make its largest territorial gains in Ukraine in 18 months, has been described as “very difficult” but “under control” by Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine’s president made the comments while speaking to military leaders in the north-eastern city on Thursday, just 18 miles (30km) from the Russian borde

Moscow launched a major ground assault across the border into the Kharkiv region last wee

The surprise move has further stretched Ukraine’s outgunned and outmanned force

Writing on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian soldiers were “inflicting significant losses on the occupier

He said: “However, the area remains extremely difficult. We are reinforcing our units

Kharkiv governor Oleg Synegubov said Ukraine was trying to “stabilise” the front line in the region and had managed to partially halt Russia’s advanc

According to analysis by news agency AFP, Moscow seized 278 sq km (107 sq miles) of Ukrainian territory between 9 and 15 May – figures it based on data from the Institute for the Study of Wa

This has been the largest territorial gain by Russia in a single operation since mid-December 202

Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing, China May 16, 2024.Reute

Putin is in China this week for his first international visit since winning the Russian presidential election in Marc

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday his troops were advancing on “all fronts”

Some military analysts say Moscow may be trying to force Ukraine to divert troops from other hot spot

On Thursday, a top Nato commander said Russia did not have sufficient forces on the ground to make a major breakthrough in Ukrain

“I’ve been in very close contact with our Ukrainian colleagues and I’m confident that they will hold the line,” US General Christopher Cavoli told journalists, AFP reporte

The intensification of Russian attacks on multiple fronts has underscored the acute ammunition and manpower shortages affecting the Ukrainian militar

The advances happened ahead of a rare international visit by President Putin to China, meeting President Xi