War in Ukraine, Day 472 | Zelensky reports “counter-offensive actions” of his army

(Kyiv) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Saturday “counter-offensive actions” by his army on the front, while refusing to say if it was the big attack prepared for months by the state -major in Kyiv.

“Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, and I won’t go into detail about them,” Zelensky told a news conference.

“You have to trust our soldiers and I trust them,” he added.

These comments follow those of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said on Friday that the great Ukrainian counter-offensive intended to push back troops from Moscow had begun.

The Russian army has reported large-scale attacks mainly on the southern front for six days.

Mr Putin, however, assured that the Ukrainian army had failed to “achieve its objectives” during these attacks and suffered heavy losses.

The Ukrainian authorities have for their part seemed to minimize the extent of the fighting on the front in recent days while remaining vague on their strategy.

On Saturday, the spokesman for the “Eastern” command of the Ukrainian army, Sergiï Tcherevaty, affirmed on television that the Ukrainian troops had managed to advance 1400 meters around the devastated city of Bakhmout in the East, including Moscow claimed capture in May.

Drone attack

Three people were killed and 26 injured early Saturday in the Odessa region of southern Ukraine in a fire caused by falling debris from drones destroyed by Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense, authorities said. regional.

“During the night, the enemy [russe] attacked in the Odessa region with drones, ”says a statement from these authorities posted on social networks. All machinery was destroyed but debris fell on an apartment building, causing fire and damage to several buildings.

“Unfortunately, there are casualties among the civilian population,” added the Ukrainian authorities. Among the injured are three children, the same sources said.