Ukraine says it still controls 60% of the border city of Vuhledar after Russian attacks

Ukrainian officials, in the most detailed public assessment of the Russia-Ukraine battle to date, announced that their forces still control 60% of the city of Vuhledar in the Kharkiv border region in northeastern Ukraine and are fighting house-to-house to defend it. Moscow, on the brink of its third year of invasion, has increased its forces in the northern part of the Kharkiv region and opened a new front; capturing Vuhledar would be its most significant achievement. On Monday, May 21, Roman Semenukha, the deputy governor of the Kharkiv region, said on national television: "The enemy, especially inside Vuhledar, continues to try to drive out the Ukrainian armed forces." Oleksandr Syniehuiv, the governor of the region, also stated: "The enemy's plan for a quick capture of the northeast has failed... Our soldiers are working to defend the city house by house and street by street." The police chief of Vuhledar had said last week that Russian forces had taken positions in various parts of the city and described the situation as "very difficult." Russian pressure in the Kharkiv region forced Ukraine to send reinforcements, and Ukrainian forces increased along more than 1,000 kilometers of the front line in the south and east. The General Staff of the Ukrainian forces announced that Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks within 5 kilometers of the border with Russia. Roman Semenukha mentioned that since May 21, when Russia began its assault on the Kharkiv region, local officials have evacuated about 10,500 border residents from border areas. Russian airstrikes in Kharkiv left five dead. Reuters reported that the ability of Ukrainian forces to push back the Russian army has diminished. Russia targeted Kharkiv with guided bombs; three people were killed and 28 were injured. Warnings have been issued about the occurrence of "heavy battles" between Russia and Ukraine on the new Kharkiv front. Putin claimed that there is no plan for the "capture" of the city. An Israeli official stated that many countries are seeking to purchase the "Arrow" system. Zelensky in Kharkiv: The situation is difficult but under control.