The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the takeover of Varvarovka and Nikolaevka in the Kharkiv region Within a week, the Russian army established control over 12 settlements in the Northern Military District, including the villages of Varvarovka and Nikolaevka in the Kharkiv region, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Friday. "Yesterday, control was established over the settlements of Varvarovka and Nikolaevka in the Kharkov region," the department said in a statement.