Russia says it took full control of Bilohorivka in eastern Ukraine

Capturing Vovchansk would be Moscow's most significant gain since it opened a new front in the northern part of Kharkiv region earlier this month, stretching Kyiv's forces in the third year of the full-scale invasion.

"The enemy continues to try, especially inside Vovchansk, to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of the town," Kharkiv region's deputy governor Roman Semenukha said on national televisionon Monday.

"About 60% of the town is controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, meaning that the assaults do not stop," he added.

The region's governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said the front line now runs along the Vovcha river which cuts through the town.

"Our soldiers are trying to defend the town house by house, street by street," Syniehubov said. "The enemy's plan to quickly capture the north of the region failed," he added on national television.

Vovchansk's police chief said last week that Russian forces had taken positions in the town and called the situation "extremely difficult".

Russia's push in Kharkiv region with assaults in the areas of Vovchansk and Lyptsi forced Ukraine to send in reinforcements - stretching its troops along the more than 1,000-km (600-mile) frontline in the east and south.

RUSSIA HAS THE MOMENTUM

Ukraine's General Staff said earlier its forces had repelled Russian attacks near Starytsia, a village about 5 km from the border with Russia, as some of Kyiv's units worked to strengthen defensive positions in the area on Monday.

Semenukha said local authorities had evacuated around 10,500 people from the border areas since May 10 when Russia launched the assault on Kharkiv region.

The Russian military said on Monday it had taken full control of the settlement of Bilohorivka in Ukraine's Luhansk region and had taken up better positions in the area.

The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement its forces had also been involved in fierce clashes in Ukraine's Kharkiv region near Vovchansk, Starytsia and Hlyboke where it said they had repelled two counter-attacks.