STORY: In the face of the rapid advance of Ukrainian troops in northeastern Ukraine, Russia is giving up its main base on this front. The Defense Ministry in Moscow announced on Saturday the withdrawal of its forces from the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region. Russian forces would also be withdrawn from Balaklija between Izyum and the regional capital Kharkiv. A video shared on social media showed Ukrainian troops in the city of Kupiansk shortly after capturing a railway junction that supplies the entire Russian front line in north-eastern Ukraine. Thousands of Russian troops would be abruptly cut off from supplies. Another video showed Ukrainian military at the entrance to Izyum. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had ordered troops to evacuate the area to step up operations in neighboring Donetsk. The information on both sides cannot be verified at the moment. The rapid fall of Izyum is Moscow’s heaviest defeat since its troops were pushed back from the capital Kyiv in March. Thousands of Russian soldiers also appear to have left behind stockpiles of ammunition and equipment. A video released by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry shows troops hoisting the country’s blue and yellow flag in Balakliia as well. Despite the counter-offensive in the region, the war continues. Rockets hit another residential area in Kharkiv on Saturday evening.