Ukraine claims to have liberated three villages in the southeast as part of its much-anticipated counter-offensive. Social media footage exhibits Ukrainian forces rejoicing in the Donetsk region’s neighbouring towns of Blahodatne and Neskuchne.
Ukraine’s Counter-Offensive: Recapturing Villages
The Ukrainian military reported that the villages of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka were liberated, and that Ukrainian forces have continued to attack Russian positions near the occupied regions of Donetsk and Bakhmut.
The state border guard service announced that the Donetsk region’s Neskuchne was once again under Ukrainian authority. The Ukrainian army also announced the liberation of the neighbouring village of Blagodatne, with a video showing soldiers flying the Ukrainian flag above a damaged building.
Ukraine managed to recapture up to 7 km of territory during the counteroffensive
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 11, 2023
The Ukrainian counter-offensive launched last week has brought the first results - there was a breakthrough of the first defense line of the Russian army.
Ukrainian troops were able to liberate… pic.twitter.com/85KWN8KARk
Military spokesperson Valeriy Shershen stated in televised remarks that Blagodatne was situated on the border between the Donetsk region and the southern Zaporizhzhia region, where Moscow had reported strong Ukrainian attacks in the past week. Shershen said that Ukrainian forces detained numerous Russian and pro-Russian soldiers. “We’re seeing the first results of counter-offensive actions, localised results,” he added.
Ukraine’s military regained a third region, Makarivka, northwest of Blagodatne, as stated by Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar. These retaken villages represent significant advances for the Ukrainian forces in their operation. Maliar said on Telegram, “No positions were lost in the directions where our forces are on the defensive.”
Shershen said that to thwart the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russian soldiers destroyed a minor dam on the Mokri Yaly River, flooding both banks. The spokesperson claimed, “This (the dam explosion and flooding) does not affect the counteroffensive actions,” and added that the Ukrainian forces are advancing towards the village of Urozhaine down the Mokri Yaly River.
Zelensky Claims Counteroffensive Has Begun
Last week, in an interview with the WSJ, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukraine is ready to launch its long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim territories conquered by Russia. He admitted that Kyiv may face significant losses due to the counter-attack.
On Saturday, Zelensky stated that Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive against Russian forces is ongoing. “From my point of view, counteroffensive defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine,” Zelensky said at a press conference after meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in Kyiv. Zelensky declined to elaborate on the counteroffensive, saying, “I believe we will feel it.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday offered the strongest confirmation yet that the long-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive had begun, as battles along a 600-mile front line offered further evidence that the counterattack was underway. https://t.co/PAuNqzaRIA
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 10, 2023
Zelensky also stated that he is constantly communicating with Ukrainian military commanders, like Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, and that they are all “feeling positive.”
He also emphasised the significance of relying on Ukraine’s military for information on the counteroffensive, rather than social media or Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his nightly video message, Zelensky disclosed only a few facts while encouraging troops to continue fighting. “Thank you to all those who hold their positions and those who advance,” he added, referring to the fighting on the eastern and southern fronts.
General Oleksander Syrskyi, commander of ground troops in operational charge of the counteroffensive, shared a photo of an explosion he claimed destroyed a group of Russian soldiers near Bakhmut.
Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi announced new gains near Bakhmut. “We’re trying...to conduct strikes on the enemy, we are counter-attacking. We’ve managed to advance up to 1,400 metres (0.87 mile) on various sections of the front,” he added.
Ukraine has started a counteroffensive but has failed to accomplish its goals, Putin said https://t.co/8zTuM6sS9t pic.twitter.com/dv0egnSkPJ
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) June 9, 2023
Putin on Ukraine’s Counter Offensive
The Russian President stated on Friday that Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive had begun but that Kyiv had so far “failed” to achieve its objectives. In a video interview posted on Telegram by a Russian journalist, Putin remarked, “We can state that this Ukrainian offensive has begun.” “But the Ukrainian troops did not reach their aims in any combat area,” he added.
Putin indicated that “combat has continued for five days, with intense fighting yesterday and the day before.” He stated that Ukrainian forces had sustained “significant losses,” but that “the offensive potential of the Kyiv regime remains.”
For several days, the Russian army has claimed to have repelled attacks in Ukraine’s south, which would be the first phase of Kyiv’s operation. However, Kyiv stated that the primary battleground remained in Ukraine’s east.
Analysts have pointed out certain challenges regarding Ukraine’s attempts to break through lines Russia has been reinforcing for months. However, in some areas, Kyiv’s troops are reported to have broken the front lines in mechanised operations over the weekend, with German Leopard-2 tanks being deployed.