Russia claims advances in Kharkiv area

Mass evacuations prompted as Ukraine calls for urgent military aid from allies

MOSCOW/KYIV — Russia on Saturday said it had captured five villages in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region during a surprise ground offensive that prompted mass evacuations, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an urgent call for military aid.

Moscow's defense ministry said its troops had "liberated" five villages in the Kharkiv region near the Russian border as well as taking one village in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine's defense ministry said on Friday Russia had launched an attack on the Kharkiv region, making small advances into a border zone. Later on Saturday, Ukraine's military command said Russia's ground troops had air support.