Russia pressing near Dehtiarne and seeking to expand fighting to two nearby villages in Kharkiv Oblast

Russian forces have intensified fighting in recent days near the village of Dehtiarne in Kharkiv Oblast and are trying to expand the combat zone to the neighbouring settlements of Nesterne and Kruhle.

Source: Ukrinform, citing Andrii Demchenko, spokesman for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service

Quote: "Recently, over the past few days, the enemy has most actively attempted assault operations against the positions of border units on the Pokrovsk and Lyman fronts, as well as in Kharkiv Oblast.

As regards Kharkiv Oblast, the enemy has been most active for over a week in attempts to advance towards the settlement of Dehtiarne, while also seeking to expand fighting to neighbouring Nesterne and Kruhle."

Details: Demchenko said the Russians had also attempted to storm positions of the Donetsk Border Detachment, but all attacks had been repelled by Ukrainian forces.

The State Border Guard Service reported that over 160 Russian soldiers had been killed and 146 wounded during this period.

Constant Russian activity is also being recorded near Vovchanski Khutory, although, the spokesman said, no large-scale assault operations are currently taking place there.

The Border Guard Service stressed that despite attempts to expand the fighting, Russian forces have failed to advance on this front.

Background: On 16 January, Demchenko told Ukrainska Pravda that border guards from the Hart Brigade had thwarted an attempt by Russian troops to break through the state border in the direction of Dehtiarne.

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