Ukrainian forces destroy Russian tanks in Kharkiv region

Ukrainian soldiers successfully targeted a group of Russian tanks in a fierce battle that ended in a trench shootout on the frontlines. The confrontation took place in the Kharkiv region, where members of Ukraine’s 43rd Mechanized Brigade faced five armored Russian vehicles. The Ukrainian troops fired heavily at the Russian tanks. They used explosive drones that managed to hit and destroy several vehicles, including two Russian BTR-80s, a T-80B tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, and an armored truck. Some Russian soldiers survived the initial blasts and took cover in nearby trenches. One Ukrainian soldier then entered the trench to engage with the remaining Russian troops. In a moment captured on video, the Ukrainian soldier threw a helmet at a Russian soldier. The Russian fighter mistook it for a grenade and ran out of hiding, where he was shot and killed. Fighting in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions remains intense. As of Monday night, Ukrainian forces have prevented Russian advances. Pavlo Shamshyn, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military in Kharkiv, indicated that Russian troops are currently on the defensive but warned of a potential large assault soon. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited military leaders in the region to commend their efforts in repelling the Russian invasion. He urged the troops to stay alert, emphasizing their role in striving for lasting peace and victory. Recently, Zelensky also agreed to a maritime truce with Russia in the Black Sea, as part of a US-mediated deal, which aims to pave the way for a broader cease-fire agreement in the ongoing war.