Russia sending reinforcements to Kharkiv amid Ukrainian 'gains'
Russian state media outlets say the country is sending reinforcements to Kharkiv amid reported intensification of the battle in the northeastern Ukrainian region.
The outlets broadcast footage on Friday showing columns of tanks, support vehicles, and artillery units traveling along in Kharkiv.
Kiev's forces have alleged "major gains" there as part of a counteroffensive, AFP reported.
Vitaliy Ganchev, a Russian official based in the region, said in televised remarks that "fierce battles" were underway near the region's town of Balakliya, which Ukraine said it had recaptured on Thursday.
"We do not control Balakliya. Attempts are being made to dislodge the Ukrainian forces, but there are fierce battles, and our troops are being held back on the approaches," he said.
"Now, Russian reserves have been brought there, our troops are fighting back," Ganchev added.
Russian officials in Kharkiv also said they were evacuating civilians towards Russia "until the situation stabilizes."
Russia began a "special military operation" in the ex-Soviet republic on February 24.
The operation is aimed at “demilitarizing” the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, which is made up of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, among other things.
Back in 2014, the republics broke away from Ukraine, refusing to recognize a Western-backed Ukrainian government there that had overthrown a democratically-elected Russia-friendly administration.
Announcing the operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”
Also on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Secretary-General Rafael Grossi warned that fresh shelling had taken place near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, causing a blackout in the nearby town of Energodar.
"This is completely unacceptable. It cannot stand," he said, insisting on "the immediate cessation of all shelling in the entire area."
Russia seized the plant soon after launching its military operation in Ukraine.
Kiev and Moscow have been reciprocally accusing each other of shelling the area that surrounds the facility.
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