As intense clashes between the two military forces persist, causing the displacement of thousands and substantial damage to infrastructure, the Ukrainian military proudly claims to have regained control of territory in the southeast, indicating a potential retreat of Russian forces.
President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video showing Ukrainian troops celebrating their success in capturing the village of Staromaiorske. The village, situated 150km east of Zaporizhzhia, fell under Ukrainian control after a fierce battle, supported by air assistance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the intensification of the Ukrainian offensive but asserted that all counter-offensive attempts had been thwarted, and the enemy had suffered significant losses.
According to Aleksandr Khodakovsky, a leader of the Russian militia, Ukraine relentlessly shelled Staromaiorske for days, securing areas but facing resistance on the outskirts.
The long-awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive had commenced on multiple fronts last month, yielding limited gains. Kyiv’s generals acknowledged the daunting challenge posed by Russia’s heavily fortified defenses and extensive minefields, making immediate success almost unattainable.
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Earlier this week, President Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg for two-day talks, during which they discussed the recent failed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries. Putin expressed that Kyiv’s planned counteroffensive against Moscow’s forces had not succeeded.
Despite the lack of official updates on the advances, US defense officials informed the media about the commencement of a new push in the Ukrainian counter-offensive.
