Ukraine claims battlefield successes in northeast as Russians fall back

Ukraine/KYIV, May 16 (HRNW) – Ukrainian troops counter-attacking against Russian forces in the country s northeast have pushed them back from the city of Kharkiv and advanced as far as the border with Russia, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.

The developments, if confirmed, would signal a further shift in momentum in favour of Ukrainian forces nearly three months into a conflict that began when Russia sent tens of thousands of troops over the border into Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Moscow meanwhile warned of “far-reaching consequences” should Finland and Sweden go ahead with plans to join the NATO military alliance – a change in the Nordic countries  long-standing policy of neutrality brought on by concern about Russian President Vladimir Putin s wider ambitions.

Fighting was reported near Kharkiv, Ukraine s second-largest city, on Monday in what interior ministry adviser Vadym Denisenko said was “our counter-offensive”.

“It can no longer be stopped…Thanks to this, we can go to the rear of the Russian group of forces,” he said.

Kharkiv, lying about 30 miles (50 km) from the border with Russia, had endured weeks of heavy bombardments from Russian artillery. The Russians  routing from there follows their failure to capture the capital Kyiv in the early stages of the war.