This May 23, 2022 photo shows a view of a shelled section of the Barabashovo market in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. (BERNAT ARMANGUE / AP)
KYIV/ MOSCOW – The situation in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region is tense, following the regrouping of Russian forces, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Monday, citing a member of Ukraine's parliament committee on national security, defense and intelligence.
“The enemy, after ten days, almost two weeks, of regrouping forces and means, brought reserves from the Belgorod region," said Fedir Venislavsky.
READ MORE: Ukraine rejects territorial concessions to Russia
Russian forces have also renewed their offensive on the town of Sloviansk in Donetsk, he said.
Russia ‘successfully deals with sanctions’
The Russian economy is withstanding the blow of Western sanctions "quite well" despite all the difficulties, as was evidenced by all the key macroeconomic indicators, President Vladimir Putin said during talks with visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Monday, the Kremlin said.
The enemy, after ten days, almost two weeks, of regrouping forces and means, brought reserves from the Belgorod region.
Fedir Venislavsky, Member, Parliament committee on national security, defense and intelligence, Ukraine
According to Putin, the leaders met because the situations regarding the regional security, the security of the two countries, and the economy "call for a serious and profound conversation."
Russia and Belarus have many spheres of joint work, including in sectors of energy and agriculture, he said.
Lukashenko said that Western countries have given Belarus and Russia an impetus to develop their own economies more intensively, stressing that "we have a huge market, resources, and technology”.
‘14 Russian paratroopers were killed’
At least 14 Russian paratroopers were killed in clashes with the Ukrainian military, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Monday on Facebook.
ALSO READ: Russia, Ukraine say peace talks on hold
Ukrainian soldiers of the 80th separate airborne assault brigade based in Lviv have also destroyed two combat vehicles of the Pskov-based 76th airborne assault division of the Russian Armed Forces, it said, without specifying the losses on the Ukrainian side or the location of the battle.
A Russian soldier guards an area at the Alley of Glory exploits of the heroes – natives of the Kherson region who took part in the liberation of the region from the Nazi invaders – in Kherson, Kherson region, south Ukraine, May 20, 2022, with a replica of the Victory banner marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II right in the background. The Kherson region has been under control of the Russian forces since the early days of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. (PHOTO / AP)
Troops deployment in Lugansk
Russia has deployed 25 battalion tactical groups, or some 12,500 troops, to Lugansk, Sergey Gaidai, head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, said Monday on Facebook.
"The situation in the region is extremely complicated. The whole territory is under fire," he said.
Evacuation from the region is complicated, but hospitals are functioning, Gaidai said, urging people to stay in shelters.
