Russia claims to occupy five villages in Kharkiv, Ukraine

International desk: Russia claims that Russian troops have occupied at least 6 villages in eastern Ukraine. Today, Saturday (May 11), the country's Ministry of Defense said that Russian troops have captured at least 6 villages in eastern Ukraine and declared them free. News from AFP.

The captured villages are Borysivka, Ogirve, Platenivka, Pulna and Strylecha in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, bordering Russia, and Keramik village in Donetsk region. Meanwhile, Russian forces have launched a massive ground operation in Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, backed by an armored fleet.

Russia suddenly started this operation on Friday. Earlier, Russia had raided the northeastern city of Ukraine. Ukraine's defense ministry said it had sent additional troops to counter Russian forces in Kharkiv. The Ministry of Defense also reported that Russian forces carried out heavy shelling and bombardment in Bhavchansk, a town bordering Kharkiv.

Earlier, the head of Ukraine's State Guard was dismissed for involvement in a plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky against two members of the State Guard. The State Security Service (SBU), the central intelligence agency of Ukraine, uncovered a plot to kill Zelenskyi and other key officials earlier this week, according to Qatar-based media Al Jazeera.

Zelensky then fired former head of the State Guard Serhiy Rudd on Thursday. However, the name of Rudd's successor has not yet been announced.