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KYIV: Russian forces launched an armoured ground attack on Friday near Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv in the northeast of the country and made small inroads, opening a new front in a war that has long been waged in the east and south.
Ukraine sent reinforcements as fighting raged in the border areas of the region, the defence ministry said, adding that Russia had pounded the frontier town of Vovchansk with guided aerial bombs and artillery.
"Russia has begun a new wave of counteroffensive actions in this direction," Prez Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv. "Now there is a fierce battle in this direction."
Ukraine had warned of a Russian buildup in the area, potentially signalling preparations for an offensive.
Zelensky has said Russia could be preparing a big offensive push this spring or summer. Kyiv's forces were prepared to meet Friday's assault, but Moscow could send more troops to the area, he told reporters.
A senior Ukrainian military source said Russian forces had pushed 1 km inside the Ukrainian border near Vovchansk. The source said Russian forces were aiming to push Ukrainian troops as far back as 10 km inside Ukraine to create a buffer zone. There was no immediate comment from Russia. reuters
