In the Ukraine-Russia war, which has been going on for months, game-changing developments are taking place. Ukraine, which had been on the defensive since the beginning of the war, announced that it had launched a counter-attack for the first time. Following the counterattack statement, Ukrainian troops began their advance in critical areas. Finally, Ukrainian troops hoisted their flags, claiming to recapture villages in the Donetsk region.
Russia has denied Ukraine’s alleged gains.
UKRAINE FLAG HANGED ON THE BUILDING
Ukrainian troops claimed to have recaptured three villages in Donetsk, in the southeast of the country. In the village of Blahodatne, moments were recorded when Ukrainian soldiers hung a Ukrainian flag on a bombed-out building.
“We are seeing the first results of counterattack actions,” Ukraine’s military spokesman, Valeriy Shershen, said in a televised statement on the incident.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar stated that they made progress between 300 and 1500 meters and said, “Ukrainian forces took back Makarivka, a village in the south.” “There was no loss of position in the directions our forces were on the defensive,” Maliar continued.
ZELENSKIY PRAISE TO UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised Ukrainian troops in his nightly video speech, but did not refer to specific areas where the fighting had been reported.
“Of course, I am grateful to our soldiers for today,” Zelensky said in his speech, referring to the conflicts in the east and south.
STABLE STATEMENT BY UKRAINE: “WE WILL GO FURTHER”
Jaeger Brigade spokesman Myroslav Semeniuk said that Ukrainian troops captured six Russian soldiers in Blahodatne, on the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions.
In his statement, Semeniuk stated that they will also take back the village of Urozhayne and said, “The enemy continues to bombard us, but this will not stop us. After Urozhayne, we will move further south.”
RUSSIAN SOURCES CLAIMS UKRAINE OPERATIONS SHOW ‘FAIL’
Russia’s defense ministry on Sunday claimed it repulsed Ukrainian attacks in the region. In the statement, it was stated that Ukraine’s attempts at offensive operations against the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye axes of the front line in the last 24 hours had “failed”.
Vladimir Rogov, an official commissioned by the Russians in the Zaporozhian region, insisted that Blahodatne and two other villages in the region were a “grey zone” for control.
In the statement made by Ukraine, it was stated that Blahodatne was taken back.
UKRAINIAN PROGRESS IN THE CRITICAL BAKHMUT REGION
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a statement that Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the east near the devastated city of Bakhmut and advanced 250 meters near the Berkhivka Reservoir.
Russia said it captured the city of Bakhmut last month after the bloodiest and longest war since Russia’s far-reaching invasion in February 2022.
However, Kiev said it was making progress again in parts of the city.