The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces have published their daily operational update… 

Speaking about the frontline, it says the situation “remains tense” and Russia is using its advantage in the number of personnel to launch attacks on Ukrainian positions. 

In the last 24 hours, 66 “combat clashes” have taken place, it adds. 

Russian troops have been pushing ahead with a ground offensive in recent days that opened a new front in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and put further pressure on Kyiv’s overstretched military. 

The update says Russian forces have attacked in the areas of Lyptsi in Kharkiv today, and fighting is continuing in the town of Vovchansk. 

“Currently, the number of combat encounters in this direction has reached 10, while the Russian occupiers tried to improve the tactical position eight times, our units in turn – twice,” it says. 

Earlier today, Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces had captured the village of Starytsia in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. 

Russian troops are continuing to advance in the area, it added. 

Ukraine did not mention the village in its operational update.