Ukraine takes ‘substantial’ victory over Russians in Kharkiv offensive

Breaking news - Ukraine makes a major breakthrough in the counter-offensive.

Ukrainian forces were on the verge of trapping thousands of Russian soldiers in an encirclement that, if successful, would be Moscow’s worst battlefield defeat since the Second World War.

Russia said it was rushing reinforcements to the Kharkiv region and pro-Moscow officials in the region acknowledged a “substantial” Ukrainian victory.

Ukraine’s ministry of defence said on Friday that its surprise offensive had covered “nearly 50km (31 miles) in three days” and that the Russians were trying to evacuate wounded men and damaged equipment.

It did not give further details, but pro-Russian war bloggers and other sources confirmed Ukrainian spearhead units had reached the banks of the Oskil river at Senkove.

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The advance means Russia’s main line of communication with its army group based in the town of Izyum has been severed, trapping thousands of troops between the river and Ukrainian forces.

If it falls, Russia could lose an entire army group of soldiers - believed to be in the thousands - and find its assault in Donbas jeopardised.
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