The latest on Russia’s war in Ukraine: Live updates

Ukraine’s northern region of Kharkiv is enduring “heavy fighting” as Russian troops pushed on with ground and air offensives on Wednesday, Ukraine’s army said.

“Heavy fighting is ongoing,” said General Serhii Melnyk, Commander of the Kharkiv city defense forces.

“Three combat engagements are still ongoing,” Melnyk said.

“In some areas, near (the towns of) Vovchansk and Lukiantsi, Ukrainian defenders were forced to move to more favorable positions to more effectively use their forces and defend the region from the offensive.”

Kharkiv’s border town of Vovchansk was liberated from Russian occupation more than 18 months ago.

Ukrainian troops repelled 11 attacks and are holding back Russia’s advance towards “Lyptsi from Hlyboke and Lukiantsi, and towards Vovchansk from the direction of Shebekino (Russia),” Melnyk said.

“Three combat engagements are still ongoing,” Melnyk said.

Kharkiv city was hit Tuesday by a Russian airstrike that wounded 24 people, including 4 children, and damaged residential buildings, Melnyk said.

The attack also killed one person.

“On May 14, an enemy drone crashed into a residential building on a city street, killing an 80-year-old woman. Another person was killed in the village of Hatyshche,” according to the city’s defense forces commander.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that they had “liberated” the settlement of Buhrovatka in the Kharkiv region and “defeated the manpower and equipment” of Ukraine’s army in Vesele, Vovchansk, and Lyptsi.