Thousands of Ukrainians Flee Their Homes in Northeast Country Following New Russian Attacks

Ukrainian officials said on Sunday that thousands of civilians in northeastern Ukraine have been displaced from their homes due to a renewed ground invasion by Russia. In its latest assault on northeastern Ukraine, Russia has targeted cities and villages with a barrage of artillery and mortars. According to the Associated Press, intense fighting forced at least one Ukrainian unit to retreat from the Kharkiv region. Russia has gained more territory in less-defended settlements located in the so-called 'gray zone' along the Russian border. Meanwhile, a ten-story residential building in Belgorod, Russia, near the border collapsed, with several casualties reported. Russian officials stated that the building collapsed due to shelling from Ukraine. Ukraine has not commented on this attack. According to local Ukrainian officials, since Friday, when Moscow began its new operations, about 4,000 civilians have fled the Kharkiv area, and Russian forces continued heavy fighting on Sunday along the northeastern front. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces have attacked 27 settlements in that area over the past 24 hours. Analysts say that Russia's renewed pressure on Ukraine is designed to exploit Ukraine's ammunition shortages and to act before promised Western munitions arrive. Ukraine has denied Russia's claim of capturing five border villages and stated that it is repelling the attacks.