Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated several settlements around Izium

Oleksandr Motuzianyk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, said this at a briefing, when asked a relevant question by journalists, Ukrinform reports.

"Yes, I can confirm this. A number of settlements have been liberated by the Ukrainian military as a result of intense hostilities. But I cannot provide more information,” he said.

Motuzianyk noted that the town of Izium and its outskirts in the Slobozhanskyi direction are the places of the largest concentration of Russian units.

"They will try to start an offensive on the east particularly from there,” he added.

The ministry’s spokesman also stressed that the Ukrainian army needs weapons.

"Europe needs to understand that today Ukraine is not just defending its territory. It protects the territory of Europe and the whole civilized world," he said.

As Ukrinform reported, the town of Izium remains the hottest point of the Armed Forces' resistance to the Russian invasion in Kharkiv region. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, in the area of Izium, the Russian invaders accumulated up to 22 battalion tactical groups. The Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully repel attacks, destroy enemy military equipment and manpower.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.