The head of the Kharkiv RSA, Oleg Sinegubov, reported a successful counterattack by Ukrainian defenders and the liberation of three settlements. At the same time, the enemy does not stop shelling Kharkiv and the region, there is information about two more deaths.
"We have good news from the front lines. Our AFU made a successful counterattack, yesterday morning began offensive operations against the enemy. Fierce fighting continued throughout the day," said the head of the Kharkiv RSA in Telegram.
According to him, Ukrainian units "dislodged Russian troops" from three settlements and "consolidated their positions."
He also noted that in the region Izyum direction remains a strategic point. "Ukrainian defenders continue to hold the defensive lines," Sinegubov stressed.
At the same time, he pointed out that the Russian occupants continue to shell the civilian infrastructure of Kharkiv and the region. "For a day, the occupiers carried out 56 strikes, as a consequence - 19 wounded, 2 people were killed," - said the head of the RSA.
"Ahead of Easter Sunday. The occupiers have no religious holidays, any principles or morals. The curfew time is being changed from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. as of today. We met with representatives of the churches and decided together that there would be no night services. We can't allow crowds of people, safety is first and foremost," added Sinegubov.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on the evening of April 18 that "we can now state that Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time. And that a very significant part of the entire Russian army is now concentrated on this offensive.
On April 19, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that the occupiers had launched an offensive in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts.
