Russian troops have begun withdrawing from key cities in eastern Ukraine, while rapid counter-attacks by Ukrainian forces have made new gains on the ground.
Ukrainian authorities noted that its troops have entered Kúpiansk this Saturday, a vital supply center for Russia in the east of the country.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Minister confirmed that the military has withdrawn from the nearby city of Izium “in order to regroup”.
The minister also confirmed the withdrawal of Russian troops from a third key city, Balaklia, with the objective of “redoubling efforts” on the Donetsk front.
If sustained over time, the advances of the Ukrainian forces would be the most significant since Russia withdrew from the Kyiv region last April.
The city of Izyum has been a fundamental supply node for the Russians and has been the scene of intense fighting in the pr first stages of the invasion.
“There was a three-day operation of withdrawal and organized transfer of the group of troops from Izium-Balaklia to the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic”, declared the Russian government in a statement.
“In order to prevent damage to the Russian troops, a powerful fire defeat was inflicted on the enemy.”
Shortly afterwards, the chief administrator of Russian-controlled sectors in the Kharkiv region recommended its residents to evacuate to Russia “to save lives”, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.
And the governor of the neighboring region of Belgorod, in Russian territory, indicated that assistance will be provided to people queuing to cross the border, with provision of food, shelter and medical support.
The advances seem to be a clear sign that the Ukrainian army is capable of regaining control of territories occupied by Russia, while the country continues with its request to military support to Western countries.
For Russia, Ukraine’s advances, if sustained, could mean a humiliating setback, given that its troops invaded the area during the first week of the war.
Before , UK Defense officials noted that Ukraine had made some 50km in territory under Russian control.
“Russian forces were probably taken over by surprise“, expressed the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.
“The sector had a weak control and the Ukrainian units have taken or surrounded several localities”.
Counteroffensive
Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in the east earlier this week, while international attention The final was focused on an anticipated advance near the southern city of Kherson.
Analysts have pointed out that Russia may be redirecting some of its most experienced forces to defend that city.
But in addition to gaining ground in the east, Ukraine is making progress in the south, according to a government official.
Nataliya Gumenyuk, spokeswoman for the Southern Command of the Ukrainian Army, said that “between two and several dozen kilometers” on that front.
But the Russian forces fighting on the southern front have dug in in defensive positions, after the Ukrainian troops have faced strong resistance since the beginning of the offensive .
Ukrainian officials shared an image on social networks in which apparently tro pas of the country hold the national flag in front of the Kupiansk city government building, with a Russian flag at their feet.
“We are advancing”, the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, wrote on his Facebook account.
“We clearly know what we are fighting for and we are definitely going to win”.
From Kyiv, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that his forces are “gradually taking control of the new settlements” and “returning the Ukrainian flag and protection to all our people.”
Furthermore, images on social networks seemed to show the arrival of Russian forces by plane to defend Izium, after Balakliya fell to the advancing Ukraine.
During a visit to Brussels this Friday, the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken
, said the counterattack was “showing real progress”.
“I think we can say that Ukraine is proceeding with a strong plan and enabled by the resources that many of us are providing,” said Blinken.
Zelensky also said during his speech that the national police units have returned to the areas recovered by his forces and urged civilians to report alleged Russian war crimes.
His call followed a report from the monitoring of the United Nations Organization in Ukraine that indicates that they had “documented a variety of violations against prisoners of war” by Moscow forces.
The report also accuses Ukrainian troops of “cases of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners of war”.
This Friday, the ukr president Anian awarded the Order of Merit, Ukraine’s highest honor, to Haluk Bayraktar, head of the Turkish drone manufacturer Bayraktar.
The company’s TB2 combat drone, which can carry four missiles, has become a symbol of the Ukrainian resistance.
Yes While Ankara has tried to play an intermediary role between Kyiv and Moscow since the conflict broke out, Bayraktar refused to supply arms to Russia, telling CNN in August: “We support Ukraine, we support its sovereignty, its resistance for its independence.” ”.
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