This is another step in kyiv’s recent whirlwind counter-offensive. Ukraine claims this Saturday progress in the east of the country. The Ukrainian army took over some “2,000 kilometers of territory” in September, announced the Ukrainian president.
“So far, since the beginning of September, some 2,000 km of territory have been liberated,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. “In recent days, the Russian army is showing us what it has best: its back. After all, it is a good choice for them to flee,” he added. Ukrainian forces announced that they had entered the city of Kupyansk, which is on supply routes for the Russian army. Moscow announces on its side withdraw troops from this area for “to reinforce” further south the separatist pro-Russian region of Donetsk.
“Ukrainian forces are advancing into eastern Ukraine, liberating more towns and villages. Their courage coupled with Western military support is yielding startling results,” summarized the spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Nikolenko, on social networks. “Sending arms to Ukraine is crucial. Defeating Russia on the battlefield means winning peace in Ukraine,” he added.
This new advance by kyiv south of Kharkiv could significantly affect Russia’s ability to supply and provide effective logistical support to its positions on the eastern front. The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had also announced that his forces had taken over 30 localities in this border region of Russia.
Moscow “gathers” forces near Donetsk
The Russian Ministry of Defense then announced that it had “took of” its present strengths “in the regions of Balakliïa and Izioum”, in order to “strengthen efforts” further south, around Donetsk, one of the capitals of the pro-Russian separatists. A region where the situation is “hard”, commented on Saturday its pro-Russian separatist leader, Denis Pushilin.
Ukrainians also have claimed progress in the south from the country. “Our soldiers are advancing on the front lines in the south in several areas ranging from two to several tens of kilometers”told local media the spokeswoman for the military command of southern Ukraine, Natalia Goumenyuk, without further details.
In the northeast, near Kharkiv, Russian forces announced on Friday that they had sent reinforcements against kyiv’s successful counter-offensive.
A new call between Macron and Zelensky
This Saturday, President Emmanuel Macron again spoke by telephone with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky about the situation of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, said the Elysée. Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky had already spoken on this subject on Monday.
The two presidents “returned to the situation around the Zaporijjia power plant, which remains very worrying. They expressed their support for the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, emphasizes the French presidency. Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky “share the same demand for the withdrawal of Russian forces from the area to guarantee the security and safety of nuclear installations”, indicates the Elysée.
The French head of state also “questioned President Zelensky on the developments of the conflict on the ground, and on the needs of Ukraine to which France could help meet”adds the Elysée, while the United States has already announced new military aid of 2.8 billion dollars for kyiv and countries in the region.