2023-06-19 22:11:14
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian army has not suffered any losses in its ongoing counter-offensive. “In some areas our fighters are moving forward, in some areas they are defending their positions and withstanding the attacks and intensive attacks of the occupiers,” Zelenskyy said in his evening video address on Monday. “We didn’t lose any positions, just liberated.”
Once again he promised his compatriots that the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag would eventually fly again over all currently occupied regions in the south and east. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military has spoken of a planned course of its own counter-offensive – but at the same time acknowledged a “difficult situation” at the front. In the south of the country, the Russian occupiers met with “fierce resistance,” Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valery Saluschny wrote on Telegram on Monday. The Ukrainian advance is being hampered by fortifications, dense minefields and a “large number of reserves.”
“The operation will continue according to plan,” Zalushnyj assured. In a video, he also showed himself together with Chief of Staff Serhiy Schaptala in a command center near the front. In doing so, Zalushnyj countered rumors in the Russian state media, which have been claiming for some time that he was allegedly seriously injured in a rocket attack in May.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar reported on a “difficult situation” and heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine. The Russian military is trying to regain the initiative at Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region and at Lyman in the adjacent Luhansk region, she said. Ukraine must prepare for a tough duel. This is currently happening. The Ukrainian troops advanced as planned. The “biggest blow” is yet to come.
Ukraine has been repelling a Russian invasion for almost 16 months. Almost two weeks ago, the Ukrainian army launched a long-awaited counter-offensive. Since then, according to Kiev, eight villages and a good 113 square kilometers have been liberated.
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