Residents of a Ukrainian border town were forced to evacuate their homes on Friday, facing an uncertain future amidst frustration and anger due to a ground assault with armored vehicles launched by Russian forces seeking to secure a new foothold. Officials gathered dozens of residents from the town of Vovchansk and surrounding villages during lulls in fighting and took them to an undisclosed location where they waited for buses to transport them to safe sites. Valery Dubsky, 60, stated that he had not eaten for 24 hours, and even fetching well water was impossible amidst ongoing gunfire. Volunteers compiled lists of those evacuated and meal packages were distributed in plastic containers. Oleksy Kharkivsky, an official with the patrol police in Vovchansk, said that Russian forces seemingly intended to destroy the town. He added, "Within 24 hours, hundreds of artillery and mine strikes could be recorded along with dozens of cluster bombs being detonated."
In related news, Russian defenses shot down 21 missiles and 16 drones launched by Kyiv forces over southwestern Russia last night. According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, "Air defense systems destroyed 21 missiles and 9 drones over Belgorod region, and 7 drones over Kursk and Volgograd regions." Kyiv forces continue to target border areas in southwestern Russia with drones and missiles almost daily, reinforcing President Vladimir Putin's declaration on the necessity to expand the Russian military operation in Ukraine, pushing Kyiv's forces away from new Russian territories with the range of missiles they are attempting to use against Russia.
