Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled foreign trips as a Russian offensive in northeast Ukraine gains ground. On Friday, Russia launched a new cross-border incursion into Ukraine, near the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. Ukraine has pulled back troops from some areas in the border region, but the Ukrainian military insists it is “not allowing the Russian occupiers to gain a foothold.”
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $2 billion in US funding for Ukraine. “We’re rushing ammunition, armored vehicles, missiles, and air defenses to get them to the front lines,” Blinken said.
Ukraine reports further clashes in the Kharkiv region. It reports three clashes in the direction of Kharkiv and that Russian forces are attacking towards Lyptsi, roughly midway between Kharkiv city and the Russian border.
There were two strikes hitting Lyptsi and Mala Danylivka, while Ukrainian forces “repelled” an offensive in Vovchansk. The Ukrainian troops “partially expelled the enemy forces from the settlement, continuing the defense operations in the northern and northwestern suburbs.”
Ukraine has moved some troops to Vovchansk and evacuated some residents.
