Ukrainian forces retake land from Russia in east and south: official

Ukrainian troops have recaptured nearly 18 square kilometres of land in the east and south in the past week in their counteroffensive against Russian forces, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Monday.

Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar.

Photo: Yevhen Kotenko/PAP/UKRINFORM

The advances brought the total territory retaken so far during the counteroffensive to more than 210 sq km, Hanna Malyar said on the Telegram messaging app, as cited by the Reuters news agency.

Ukraine launched its counteroffensive last month to reclaim occupied areas and seize the initiative in Russia's full-scale invasion, which began in February last year and is now in its 17th month, Reuters reported.

War update: 28 combat engagements occur in five directionshttps://t.co/WlpdeQTzKU

— Ukrinform-EN (@Ukrinform_News) July 17, 2023

In the past week, Ukrainian troops have recaptured 7 sq km in the direction of the embattled city of Bakhmut in the east and nearly 11 sq km around the southern cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol, according to Malyar.

#Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar reported that Ukrainian forces continue to advance in the #Bakhmut area and are defending new positions on the flanks of Bakhmut against #Russian ground attacks. 4/4https://t.co/S0wpi7GdMF pic.twitter.com/KgkCee744q

— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) July 17, 2023

Southern #Ukraine Update:#Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on the western Donetsk-eastern #Zaporizhia border area and made limited gains as of July 16. 1/4https://t.co/S0wpi7GdMF pic.twitter.com/9hJR33ok9u

— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) July 17, 2023

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Monday is day 509 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters