(Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Sunday {that a} Ukrainian counteroffensive had made features in each southern Zaporizhzhia area and in an space of Donetsk area, the point of interest of the battle, the place Kyiv has reported successes.
Kyiv has stated for a number of weeks that its forces have superior across the city of Dobropillia — close to the logistical hub of Pokrovsk, one of many key targets of Russian troops advancing slowly westward via Donetsk area.
In his nightly video handle, Zelenskiy stated Kyiv’s forces had made features of greater than 3 km (1.8 miles) additional south in Zaporizhzhia area.
“Right now, Ukrainian items are persevering with our counteroffensive actions close to Dobropillia, but in addition in different sectors — significantly in Zaporizhzhia area close to Orikhiv,” he stated.
“There, our forces have superior — as we speak greater than 3 km.”
The Ukrainian army’s twenty fourth Separate Assault Battalion, posted on the Telegram messaging app, saying along with one other unit, it had introduced beneath management Mali Shcherbaky, a village between Orikhiv and the Dnipro River.
A Russian Defence Ministry report made no reference to Ukrainian advances or whether or not Mali Shcherbaky had modified fingers. Nevertheless it stated Moscow’s troops had hit Ukrainian troops and gear in Zaporizhzhia area, together with within the village of Novoandriivka, close to each Mali Shcherbaky and Orikhiv.
Reuters couldn’t independently confirm battlefield stories from both aspect.
Ukraine and Russia have previously week issued conflicting accounts of the scenario alongside the frontline within the greater than 3-1/2-year-old struggle, estimated by Ukraine’s high commander to stretch alongside 1,250 km (775 miles).
Russian President Vladimir Putin informed senior officers final week that Moscow’s forces had captured 5,000 sq. km of territory this yr (1,930 sq. miles) and have held the strategic benefit via all sectors of the entrance line.
Zelenskiy, a day later, stated Ukrainian forces had been inflicting heavy losses on Russian troops close to Dobropillia and had been “defending ourselves alongside all different instructions.”
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Bogdan Kochubey; Modifying by David Gregorio)
