POLTAVA TAKEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1943, Page 3

POLTAVA TAKEN

AND IMPORTANT JUNCTION ON ROAD TO GOMEL FURTHER BIG RUSSIAN GAINS. SWEEPING PROGRESS TOWARDS KIEV. LONDON, September 23. The Russians announce the capture of Poltava, an important railway centre 80 miles south-west of Kharkov —a region in which the Germans have for weeks been doing their utmost to hold up the Soviet, offensive thrust. A German admission of' the “evacuation” of Poltava preceded the Russian announcement of its capture.

An important German stronghold on the Bryansk-Gomel railway has also been taken by the Russians. Marshal Stalin, in an order of the day, states that it is the most important railway junction and centre of German resistance in the direction of Gomel. An order of the day issued by Marshal Stalin states that Poltava, which has been a key centre of enemy resistance, was captured after three days of intense fighting. Heavy losses in men and equipment were inflicted on the enemy. A Moscow communique records fresh Russians advances in three sectors. These include an advance of three to six miles in the drive towards Dnepropetrovsk, of six to ten miles in the direction of the Dnieper, and of up to ten miles in the direction of Kiev. The Russians have captured a town 22 miles east of Kiev. Further north, they have reached a point ten miles from Smolensk.