Ukraine Border Region: Russia Smashes Train Tracks amid Child Evacuation

A Russian attack during the night destroyed trains and tracks in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, officials revealed on Friday. As a result, authorities have coordinated the evacuation of children from the area, which is currently under heavy attack by the Kremlin’s forces in a powerful new offensive.

The overnight strike not only damaged rolling stock and railway tracks but also buildings, as reported by Ukraine’s national railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Since Russia initiated an offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10, more than 11,000 people have been evacuated, according to regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. On Friday, authorities announced the mandatory evacuation of 123 orphans and children living without their parents in the area over the next 60 days.

Russia’s offensive in Kharkiv appears to be a coordinated effort, with incursions into the Donetsk, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the aim is to create a “buffer zone” in the Kharkiv region to prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks.

Ukraine’s challenges have been mounting as it faces a formidable opponent, and the war seems to be at a critical stage. The new Russian offensive is straining Ukraine’s already depleted forces, further pressuring the Ukrainian army.

Despite the urgent need for Western aid, particularly air defense systems, the support is not arriving swiftly enough. Furthermore, most Western donors restrict Ukraine from using advanced weapons provided to strike targets on Russian soil, allowing Russia to amass its troops for cross-border attacks and deploy missile launchers against Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the consequences of these limitations, citing an attack in Kharkiv that resulted in civilian casualties. The Ukrainian military claims to have halted the Russian advance in the north of Kharkiv and is engaged in counter-offensive operations.

The Ukrainian military has reported ongoing Russian troop build-up in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, with daily air and artillery strikes. However, the claims have not been independently verified.

A missile strike in Kharkiv on Thursday damaged a printing company, destroying a significant number of books. The owner of the printing plant stated that the attack will reduce Ukraine’s book-printing capacity by 30-40%.