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Ukraine’s northeastern front could decide new battle lines

FILE - A child waits inside a car as people queue outside for humanitarian aid in the village of Zelene, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - People cross a snowy road during a blizzard to receive humanitarian aid in the village of Zelene, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - A woman walks holding food products she received from a humanitarian organization in the village of Zelene, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Dozens of elderly residents waited for hours amid heavy snows for a food truck to arrive. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

Oleksandr Luzhan gestures inside his mother's damaged home in Kupiansk, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Luzhan picked up insulation kits, containing wooden boards and other items, supplied by an aid group called HEKS/EPER Swiss Church Aid and said to increase indoor temperatures in battered homes by at least 5 degrees to seal his mother's house(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Oleksandr Luzhan, whose mother's house was struck twice, exits the shrapnel riddled building, in Kupiansk, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Luzhan picked up insulation kits, containing wooden boards and other items, supplied by an aid group called HEKS/EPER Swiss Church Aid and said to increase indoor temperatures in battered homes by at least 5 degrees to seal his mother's house. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - FILE - A severed hand lies in the rubble of a house where Ukrainian servicemen were sheltering which destroyed by a Russian S-300 rocket strike, in Kupiansk, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - A woman walks by a building destroyed by a Russian strike in Kupiansk, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - A Ukrainian military Soviet era GRAD multiple rocket launcher, attached to the Prince Roman the Great 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, is driven away after firing at Russian positions in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Ukrainian servicemen of the 3rd Separate Tank Iron Brigade take part in a drill, not far from the frontlines, in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Medals sit on a table as Ukrainian servicemen of the Prince Roman the Great 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade adjust their hats before a flag ceremony where some of them were honored for their bravery and accomplishments in battle, in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Ukrainian servicemen of the Prince Roman the Great 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade stand in formation during a flag ceremony where some of them were honored for their bravery and accomplishments in battle, in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - A priest blesses Ukrainian servicemen of the Prince Roman the Great 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade as they stand in formation during a flag ceremony where some of them were honored for their bravery and accomplishments in battle, in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Ukrainian servicemen of the 3rd Separate Tank Iron Brigade take part in a drill, not far from the frontlines, in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Ukrainian servicemen of the Prince Roman the Great 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade stand around a Soviet era Grad multiple rocket launcher before firing at Russian positions in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

FILE - Ukrainian servicemen of the Prince Roman the Great 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a Soviet era Grad multiple rocket launcher at Russian positions in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Grueling artillery battles have stepped up in recent weeks in the vicinity of Kupiansk, a strategic town on the eastern edge of Kharkiv province by the banks of the Oskil River as Russian attacks intensifying in a push to capture the entire industrial heartland known as the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and the Luhansk provinces. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)

Ukraine’s northeastern front could decide new battle lines