Russian forces are massing for a new invasion of the north, Ukrainian intelligence chief warns

Civilians are evacuated from their homes in Vovchansk amid Russian cross-border attacks Photo: Svet Jacqueline/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Kyiv confirmed heavy fighting, but denied that Moscow had captured Vovchansk. Photo: Simon Townsley for The Telegraph

Despite his initial pessimistic assessment to the New York Times, General Budanov later told Ukrainian media that the situation in the Kharkov region was “stable” and that Russian troops were refraining from attacking Sumy, a border town 90 miles away northwest of Kharkov.

Russian military bloggers posted videos purporting to show Russian artillery shelling a building in Volchansk that Ukrainian soldiers were using as a defensive position.

“Our assault units are fighting on the northern outskirts of Volchansk. Enemy snipers from high-rises became more active. From the south, the enemy is resisting with tanks,” reports the Telegram channel of the Russian military blog “Two Majors.”

Russian troops reportedly encountered little resistance when they crossed the border on Friday and have now advanced five miles into Ukraine, according to the US Institute for the Study of War.

Kharkov authorities say there is «active firefighting» on the northern outskirts of the city. Photo: REUTERS

Both sides are sending forces into the region, which threatens Kharkov, Ukraine's second city with a population of 1.3 million. for the first time since 2022.

Ukrainian officials confirmed heavy fighting but denied that Russian troops had captured Vovchansk. .

“There are active shooting battles on the northern outskirts of the city,” said the head of the Kharkov regional administration Oleg Sinegubov.

Kharkov will fall within the range of Russian artillery if its troops can advance a few miles further south, but Britain's Ministry of Defense said the attack was likely planned as a diversion to draw Ukrainian forces away from the battlefields of Donbass, the center of further potential. Russian attacks.

«It is unlikely that Russia has built up sufficient combat power in the city without moving additional forces into the area,» it said.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from a village near the Ukrainian-Russian border since Friday, and reports now it is also said that women and children are fleeing Kharkov.