Ukraine updates: Russia 'bogged down' on border, Kyiv says

Ukrainian artillery shells Russian positions in Kharkiv region

Russian forces have not succeeded in their attempt to capture the northeastern border town of Vovchansk, but fighting remains intense, Ukraine's army chief said. DW has the latest.

Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Friday that Russian forces were "bogged down" in their attempt to capture the northeastern border town of Vovchansk, but that fighting on the eastern front remained intense.

After initial success, "the enemy has got completely bogged down in street battles for Vovchansk and suffered very high losses in assault units," Syrskyi said, but added that fighting near the eastern cities of Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove was "intense".

Ukraine has been battling a Russian land assault on its northeastern Kharkiv region since May 10. Thousands of troops stormed the border in the biggest territorial advance in 18 months.

Here's a look at the latest developments from Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Friday, May 24:

Russia says Islamic State behind deadly Moscow attack

Russia said for the first time that the so-called Islamic State group (IS) coordinated the March attack on a Moscow concert hall, the country's deadliest terrorist attack in two decades.

IS had claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack, which killed more than 140 people, but Moscow has repeatedly tried to link Ukraine and the West to the attack.

FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying that "preparations, the financing, the attack and the retreat of the terrorists were coordinated via the internet by members of Khorasan Province (IS-K)," an IS branch active in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Bortnikov, however, did not discard the Ukrainian angle in his statements, saying that "upon completing the attack, the terrorists received clear instructions to move toward the Ukrainian border, where from the other side a 'window' had been prepared for them."

Ukraine has denied any involvement.

Tokyo and Seoul announce sanctions over Russian-North Korean arms deals

Japan and South Korea announced separate sanctions packages against companies, vessels or individuals allegedly involved in the supply of North Korean weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine in violation of UN resolutions.

Japan's top government spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said the country "strongly condemns" the alleged deals.

"We have cooperated with allies like the United States to freeze the assets of 11 groups and one individual involved in the Russia-North Korea military assistance meant to support Moscow's invasion of Ukraine," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, South Korea imposed sanctions on two Russian vessels and seven North Koreans for various activities, including allegedly trading military supplies between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The vessels were "carrying a large quantity of containers between Russia and North Korea transporting military supplies", Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Earlier in May, the United States sanctioned two Russian individuals and three Russian companies for facilitating arms transfers between Russia and North Korea, including ballistic missiles used in Ukraine.

Russia 'bogged down' in battle for Vovchansk, Ukraine says

Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Russian forces were "bogged down" in their attempt to capture the northeastern border town of Vovchansk, but that fighting on the eastern front remained intense.

Ukraine has been battling a Russian land assault on its northeastern Kharkiv region since May 10. Thousands of troops stormed the border in the biggest territorial advance in 18 months.

After initial success, "the enemy has got completely bogged down in street battles for Vovchansk and suffered very high losses in assault units," Syrskyi said, but added that fighting near the eastern cities of Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove was "intense."

The Ukrainian military also said Russian forces had a partial success near the village of Ivanivka in the Kharkiv region.

Syrskyi's comments came as state rail operator Ukrainian Railways reported a series of attacks on the rail system in the Kharkiv region, damaging tracks, carriages and buildings.

dh/fb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)