Ukraine makes considerable gains in east and south as Zelenskiy announces start of counteroffensive
- 10 June, 14:09
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has confirmed the start of the long-awaited counteroffensive against the Russian army. "Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place," Zelenskiy said on Saturday following the meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv.
Earlier on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video interview: "We can definitely state that this Ukrainian offensive has begun." Commenting on Putin’s remarks, Zelenskiy said: "It is important that Russia always feels this: that they do not have long left, in my opinion.”
Ukraine had long been preparing for a counteroffensive but this was the first time Kyiv officially confirmed the start of the operation. Zelenskiy’s announcement came amid the Ukrainian troops’ considerable gains in the eastern and southern fronts. Ukrainian troops advanced 1. 7 km near Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region on Friday, according to Spokesperson of Ukraine's Eastern Group of Forces Serhiy Cherevaty.
“We took advantage of the enemy’s rotation measures and the fact that units which entered do not know the area fully, and failed to conduct appropriate reconnaissance and coordination. We struck,” he told Ukrainian television. “We have been carrying out assaults for several days.”
Russia lost 130 troops with 145 more Russian soldiers being injured and four others taken hostage in the fighting in Bakhmut. Russia’s defence ministry said it was continuing to repel Ukrainian attacks in the southern region of Zaporizhia, which is home to Europe’s largest nuclear plant.
