The Guardian: Ukraine has retaken 1,000 sq km of territory, Volodymyr Zelenskiy says
President announces soldiers have taken key eastern town of Balakliia, as US secretary of state visits Kyiv
Ukraine has retaken more than 1,000 sq km (390 sq miles) of territory and over 20 villages, the president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has announced, as its troops wage a counteroffensive in the south and the east of the country.
Zelenskiy also released a video late on Thursday in which Ukrainian soldiers said they had taken the key eastern town of Balakliia, which has a population of 27,000 people.
Earlier, Brig Gen Oleksiy Gromov said at a briefing that Ukrainian armed forces had advanced up to 50km (31 miles) into Russian lines and that “the total amount of territory returned to Ukrainian control in the Kharkiv and Pivdennyi Buh directions stands at more than 700 sq km”.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: Journalists are prohibited from the front lines, so there is no way to independently confirm what Ukraine is saying. But Russian military bloggers are not happy with the progress of the war .... ‘We have already lost’: far-right Russian bloggers slam military failures (The Guardian).
Ukrainians smash 50km past Russian frontlines, general says -- Politico
Ukrainian forces advance deep into Russian lines in Kharkiv region - general -- Reuters
Kyiv says it has retaken dozens of localities from Russian control in the south and east of Ukraine -- Euronews
Ukraine claims battlefield gains, more liberated towns -- NYPost
As Ukraine pushes southern offensive, it also hits Russia in the northeast -- CNN
Ukrainian counteroffensive: Kyiv could ‘seize Kherson before the winter’ -- France 24
Ukraine’s major counteroffensive in beginning stages, Russia has failed second campaign attempt: Gen. Milley -- FOX News
