"There are certain results in other areas of the Kharkiv front. One of them is in the Svatovo-Kupyansk area, where our soldiers managed to advance towards Borovaya, and they are continuing to improve their positions there," Ganchev wrote on his Telegram channel.
Xi rolled out the red carpet for Putin, who arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit, signalling the deepening alignment between the two nations amidst Russia's ongoing advances in Ukraine, CNN reported.
The Russian Army has opened a new front in Ukraine's northern Kharkiv region, capturing villages near the border - an offensive Ukrainian officials had warned about days earlier.
The incursion began on Friday as Russian troops breached Ukraine's border near Kharkiv city, establishing a northeastern front in a conflict that has primarily unfolded in the east and south over the past two years.
A day after Russia claimed to have captured five villages after launching a fresh ground assault in north-eastern Ukraine, Moscow has now gained hold of four more villages in the northern Kharkiv region, CNN reported, citing Ukraine's top general on Monday.
Amid recent gains made by the Russian forces on the battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that "fierce battles" are taking place and situation is "extremely difficult" in some regions, while affirming that the key thing is for the country to remain 'resilient'
Following Russia's move to capture nine villages in a fresh ground assault in a cross-border offensive, Ukraine warned the situation in the northern Kharkiv region has "significantly worsened", reported CNN.
The Russian forces captured five villages after launching fresh ground assault in north-eastern Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is in ardent need of military aid and air defence systems amid Russia's intensifying attacks, Al Jazeera reported.
At least eight people were killed and 10 injured in Russian strikes on Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, on Saturday, Al Jazeera reported, citing regional officials.
In the northeast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov lamented the loss of a 19-year-old individual following an air assault that struck a petrol station in the Kharkiv region.