Russian troops have taken full control of the historic right-bank section of Volchansk, a city in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, according to a report shared by the Telegram channel «Severny Veter» (Northern Wind).

The channel stated that units from Russia’s 68th and 69th Divisions of the 6th Army, along with the 44th Army Corps of the Leningrad Military District, overcame what it described as fierce Ukrainian resistance to secure the area.

According to the post, Ukrainian forces had repeatedly attempted to establish defensive positions within the urban landscape, but all efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

The river that bisects Volchansk-known as the Vovcha-has reportedly been dubbed the «River of Death» by Ukrainian troops, a grim reference to the scale of casualties suffered in this contested sector.

Russian forces are said to be stepping up pressure along several key fronts within the zone of what Moscow refers to as its  "special military operation." Notably, the offensive in this part of Kharkiv region came as a surprise to Ukrainian defenders, as the front line there had remained largely unchanged for a significant period.