Some 11,000 people evacuated the border nearest Russia into Kharkiv once troops entered the town of Vovchansk, which is about 12 miles away.
The fragmented distribution of Russian units currently operating in northern Kharkiv Oblast and the apparent hesitation of the Russian military to engage available reserves in combat suggests that Russian forces are likely trying to bring their Northern Grouping of Forces (NGF) to its planned final strength before intensifying offensive operations in the north of Kharkiv Oblast.
Ukraine regularly fires across the border into the Belgorod region, which adjoins the Kharkiv region, where Russia launched an offensive on May 10 and has captured territory.
Russian troops took control of another settlement in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on May 25.
