School goes underground for the children in Putin’s sights
HOLDING hands under the watchful eye of their teacher, frightened Ukrainian children are ushered into a bomb-proof bunker yesterday as Vladimir Putin launches his latest onslaught on their city.
With the Kremlin’s so-called ‘second invasion’ of Ukraine gathering pace, pupils at a school in Kharkiv went underground for respite.
The major city, where more than a million Ukrainians are once again in fear for their lives, has not been seriously threatened for two years. Back in early 2022, against all odds, the Russian invaders were repelled after bombarding it with rockets and even banned cluster munitions.
As the pupils were led down into the
‘Ukrainians forced to withdraw’
air-tight and windowless makeshift school, those closer to the frontline were fleeing the fighting.
Vovchansk stands around 45 miles north-east of Kharkiv and was yesterday in the sights of Vladimir Putin’s forces. As the Russian army advanced, thousands of men, women and children left the town.
Only an estimated 2,500 of its 17,000 residents remained yesterday as the fighting intensified and, despite their valiant efforts, out-gunned Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw.
The speed of Russia’s advance has been blamed on poorly built fortifications around Vovchansk and enduring issues surrounding a lack of ammunition and weaponry. Frustrated Ukrainian troops suggested the Russians had been able to simply ‘walk in’. Local officials fear Vovchansk could become the next Bakhmut – the city devastated last year by Russian scorched earth tactics.
Ever since Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second city – repelled an assault in early 2022, it has stood as a beacon of resistance. But Russia is once again on the march and its troops are better equipped and more tactically adept.
The intensity of the attacks has appeared to take Ukrainian commanders and their Western advisers by surprise after months of little movement on the 620-mile frontline.