Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, claimed to have retaken 6000 sq km of territory as Ukrainian forces initiated the counter-offensive in the south and eastern part of Ukraine. In a video message on Monday, the president also urged international aid, specifically the air defense systems, ‘‘to protect our skies’’, as he mentioned in his video message.
Russia Abandoned Key Cities
Russian forces are now controlling very little ground in the Kharkiv region. They have abandoned important cities such as Izyum, Kupiansk, and Balakliya in the province. President Zelenskiy also accused the Russian invaders of deliberately targeting civilians and key infrastructure as they retreated from the region. “Buildings, hospitals, schools, communal infrastructure“, were being targeted by Russian forces leaving “hundreds and thousands in darkness”, he mentioned.
Russia Calls It Regrouping
Russia has called its retreat in the region ‘‘Regrouping’’ with an objective of focusing on other regions such as Donetsk and Luhansk but a US-based think tank at the Institute for the Study of War, Mason Clark calls the Russian retreat ‘‘a complete rout’’.
