Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-24
Soviets Smash
Farther Into
North Ukraine
BIudgeon Aimed
At l<iev and Rail
Junction of Konotop
BY EDDY GILMORE,

Army smashed deeper today into
the Northern Ukraine northwest
of Kharkov, where the capture of
Sunny, Lebedin and Akhtyrka
fashioned a Soviet bludgeon
aimed at Kiev and the important
railway junction of Konotop.
Today's midday communique said
more strongly fortified settlements
were captured as Russian soldiers.
across barren black fields, struck
west of Sunny, 100 miles northwest
Of Kharkov. rs miles southeast of
Konotop and 1875 miles east of Kiev.
A water barrier also was forced
and about 600 Germans killed In the
capture of number of towns north
of Kursk, where it was announced
last night the Russians had driven
to within 40 miles of Orel from the
south with the capture of Maloark-
hangelsk.
Soviet tanks bearing automatic
gunners followed by infantry surged
westward in spite of spring thaws
AS the drive proceeded northwest of
Kharkov on a 42-mile front, with
Sunny at the north end of the line,
Akhtyrka at the south end and Leb-
edin in the center.
Peasants Prepare for Planting.
Soldiers and drivers discarded
their fur hats and coats to cool their
steaming faces in the warm wind
blowing from the Dnieper.
In their wake peasants were dig
ging out buried grain and hidden
tools and waved joyfully at mud
plastered tanks as they prepared to
start spring planting in the rich
area.
On other sectors of the long front
the Red Army was actively pressing
its campaign. A Tass dispatch said
the final outcome is nearing in the
Caucasus" and the offensive in the
Donets Basin Is gradually coming
to head"
(Soviet dispatches did not men,
ton any fighting in the north,
but a DNB broadcast from Ber-
I'm said the Russians had
launched major attack on a
wide front" with strong tank and
artillery support southeast of
Lake linen yesterday. The
broadcast said 81 Russian tanks
were destroyed
fIhe German high command
said 10000 Russians were killed
In heavy fighting north of Orel
during vain Soviet attacks"
The communique said Russian
drives in the Caucasus, Donets
Basin, southwest of Kharkov and
west OF Kursk were frustrated
and Soviet motorized guard
corps wiped out on the Mus
River west of the Donets Basin.)
Nazis Counterattack.
But in the Donets Basin strong
German counterattacks were noted
IN the Soviet early communicate.
while Soviet troops forging west of
Rostov engaged In hand to-hand
flghting to occupy a fortified town.
The Germans concentrated large
tanks and mobile infantry in the
kraSnoarmeiSk area north of Sta
limo, in the Donets Basin, in an at
tempt to re-establish severad COM
munications arteries, the war bull
letin said
Our troops, however, are holding
back the Hitherto onslaught and
causing them heavy losses" the
communique stated
A German garrison on the ap-
proaches to Lebedin was annihilated
when it refused to surrender, the
war bulletin said.
Pincers Threaten Cities.
The forces at Akhtyrka provided
pincerS so miles northeast of
Poltaya, with another pincers SO
miles southeast of the rail junction
city, which was the scene of the
victory Peter the Great scored over
the Swedish armies in 1709-a battle
from which Russia emerged as a
European power.
| Poltava lies on the west bank of
/ the Vorskla River, about IS miles
northeast of Kremenchug and the
Dnieper RIVER valley.
Other Russian columns previously
were reported within "a miles of
the Dnieper at Pavlograd and
Krasnograd.
The Germans reported the Rus
slams had broadened the Orel front
north and northeast of the CITY
but claimed they were dealing
heavy damage to the Soviet troops
Reuters dispatch from Moscow
said it was reported the Germans
had switched % divisions from
France, Belgium, Norway and Ger
many to the eastern front in the
last "a hours.