In a critical development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian forces have announced that they have successfully stalled the advancement of Russian troops into the northeastern Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian army stated on Friday that they have "stopped" Russia in the Kharkiv sector and have now initiated counter-offensive actions to push back the invaders.

Since May 10, Ukraine has been grappling with a fresh Russian land assault in the Kharkiv region, which resulted in the largest territorial gains for Moscow in the past 18 months. However, Ukrainian Defense Forces have managed to hold their ground, particularly in the town of Vovchansk, located just a few kilometers from the border. The enemy has reportedly faced significant losses during street battles in Vovchansk.

Despite these victories, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, cautioned that the situation remains volatile on the eastern front, where Russia claims to have made substantial gains in the past two weeks. Intense fighting has been reported near the towns of Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove. Notably, Russia recently claimed to have seized the village of Bilogorivka, a key target in their quest to gain control of the entire Luhansk region.

Moscow has justified its offensive in Ukraine's northeast by citing the need to establish a "buffer zone" along the border to prevent future counterattacks from Ukraine. In response, Ukraine has deployed additional troops to the region. However, Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of deliberately targeting civilians in their strikes. The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, was hit by Russian attacks, claiming the lives of at least seven people.

Simultaneously, state-owned train operator Ukrzaliznytsia reported a series of attacks on the railway system in the Kharkiv region, resulting in damage to tracks, train carriages, and buildings. While the railway network remains vital for both civilian and military purposes, Ukrainian Railways assured that long-distance and suburban train services continued to run as scheduled.

Amidst the escalating conflict, more than 11,000 people have been evacuated from the wider region since Russia launched its latest offensive two weeks ago, according to the local governor Oleh Synehubov.

Additionally, tensions escalated as Ukraine fired missiles overnight at the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, leading to the unfortunate death of two innocent individuals, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of the region.

As the Ukrainian army intensifies its counter-offensive and the conflict continues to unfold, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.