villages evacuated after the Russian offensive near Kharkiv

For three days, a deluge of fire has fallen on the town of Vovchansk, less than ten kilometers from the Russian border. The building has just been hit by a missile. The streets are littered with broken glass, several people are waiting for help. Twenty kilometers away, this is the place where evacuations are coordinated, as best they can. Rescuers, firefighters, doctors and psychologists take care of deeply shocked civilians.

Six villages taken by the Russians

“There is a rain of bombs and other devices thrown by planes. They throw three or four each time, we have nowhere to go”, said an evacuated resident. The civilians are still within gunshot range, no time to lose so they board a bus to be evacuated to Kharkiv. “The Russians use glide bombs, artillery, mortars, they strike massively with everything they can”, explained a Ukrainian rescuer. Since the start of the offensive towards Kharkiv, the Russians have taken six villages and street fighting has started in Vovchansk.