Ukrainian forces pushed forward with their counteroffensive on Friday around two key cities in the eastern part of the country, with President Volodymyr Zelensky reporting heavy losses on the Russian side.
While Russia claimed to have taken control of two additional villages in its gradual advance through the east and south, its Defense Ministry made no mention of Ukraine’s offensive near Pokrovsk and Dobropillia.
In his nightly video address, Zelensky said the counteroffensive had disrupted Moscow’s long-standing goal of capturing Pokrovsk, a vital logistics hub. “This was one of the most important directions of Russia’s offensive, and they failed to launch a full-scale advance there. Our forces are destroying them,” he said.
Zelensky also noted that Russian casualties are mounting and that Ukrainian forces are capturing more Russian prisoners “every day,” strengthening the country’s so-called exchange fund.
Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Telegram that troops had pushed between three and seven kilometers through Russian defensive lines. Meanwhile, Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces were successfully holding their ground around Kupiansk in northeastern Kharkiv, an area under consistent Russian attack for months.
On Thursday, the president revealed that Ukrainian troops had already retaken seven settlements and around 160 square kilometers near Pokrovsk and Dobropillia since the start of the counteroffensive. He added that another nine settlements had been fully “cleared” of Russian forces.
Also Read:
Delivering Excellence in the Property and Investment Landscape: Benjamin Hunter
Driving Excellence and Transformation in the Pharma Landscape: Radwan Shaker Al-Zalak
