SOVIET AIR ATTACKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 202, 27 August 1943, Page 5

SOVIET AIR ATTACKS

ENEMY TRAINS WRECKED Recd. 8 p.m. Rugby, Aug. 25. The Russian communique says: “Yesterday on all sectors Soviet troops destroyed or damaged 104 tanks. Ninety-eight enemy planes were shot down.” From the announcement about Akhtyrka it is assumed, in London that the German counter-attacks which penetrated the newly-won Russian positions west of Kharkov have now been signally defeated. The whole region between Kharkov, Byelgorod and Sumy is therefore firmly in Russian hands. Moscow radio also reports th st Soviet partisans in Chernigov. 150 miles west of the fr/.t. h; northern Ukraine, derailed eleven military trains, wrecking 12 railway engines. 58 wagons loaded with troops. 14 oil wagons, 22 ammunition wagons, and 30 other trucks carrying tanks. Moscow announced last night that Soviet aircraft attacked enemy trains and dumps at the railway junction of Unecha and. Novozybkov, on the Briansk-Gomel line, and the railway stations at Barvenkova and Khartisisk and Ilvoajskoye, in the Donetz Basin. Many fires broke out. Ten enemy trains were set on fire. Many powerful explosions took place. On the same night Soviet aircraft attacked enemy aerodromes where the Germans had concentrated many planes. In addition Soviet aircraft continued to deal blows against enemy concentrations south and south-west of Kharkov 7 . One enemy plane failed to return. A supplementary Soviet communique reports stubborn Garman resistance south of Kharkov, whore, however, the Russians seized favourable positions. A counter-attack southwest of Voroshilovgrad v. as made with large tank forces, but the Russians drove it back and advanced further. On another sector of the front the Russians captured ‘everal key pes.tions in the enemy d fence, including a large railway station. South of Izyum the Russians took several large ’ key points of enemy defence. There , was particularly fierce fighting for one place. The Russians repelled forty counter-attacks and then broke into the place after street fighting and occupied it.—B.O.W,