Defence of Kharkiv 'extremely difficult' as Russia gains miles

Zelensky's warning as Ukraine hit by heavy shelling

- Stephen Beech

UKRAINE is struggling to defend the city of Kharkiv as Russian troops launch a fresh advance, officials said yesterday.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation was "extremely difficult" as Vladimir Putin's forces made their biggest gains in months.

Moscow has made inroads a few miles to the north of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, forcing outnumbered troops to try to hold the line on a new front.

Russia recently hit the region with an Iskander missile, and claimed to have destroyed a key command post.

Heavy shelling of Ukrainian positions near Vovchansk, three miles inside the border, was also reported.

President Zelensky visited wounded troops at a Kharkiv medical facility and said: "The direction remains extremely difficult. We are strengthening our units."