More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the countries are fighting for control of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukraine has begun its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia, officials told ABC News.
Multiple reports have said a major battle has begun in southeastern Ukraine, south of the major Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine is making its first notable advances since the start of its counteroffensive, in the past two days rapidly compelling Russian forces to pull back from three villages on the southern front line.
Russian and Ukrainian public sources confirm Ukraine has liberated the villages in the area known as the Vremeyevskoe salient, at the border of the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.
PHOTO: A Ukrainian serviceman sits atop a tank, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, June 12, 2023.
A Ukrainian serviceman sits atop a tank, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk regi…Read More
The advances are still small but notable because they show Ukraine beginning to pierce Russia’s defensive line. Since liberating the villages, Ukraine is continuing to push south toward another village, according to Russian pro-war bloggers linked to Russia’s military.
PHOTO: A Ukrainian serviceman looks out of an armored recovery military vehicle, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, June 12, 2023.
A Ukrainian serviceman looks out of an armored recovery military vehicle, amid Russia’s…Read More
Russia’s pro-war military bloggers are sounding the alarm about the Ukrainian advances. Russian units were forced to pull back from two villages, Neskuchnoe and Blagodatnoe, almost without a fight because of the risk of encirclement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first public comments on Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which began earlier this week.
“Counteroffensive and defensive actions, accordingly, are taking place in Ukraine, on which stage, I won’t say in detail,” Zelenskyy said.
“I think we should trust our militaries. And I trust them. I am in touch with our commanders of different areas every day: Syrskyi, Tarnavskyi, Moskaliov, Nayev, Zaluzhnyi. Everyone is optimistic. Pass this to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he added.
