Updated with statements by Zelensky
KHARKIV (awp/afp) – Ukraine claimed on Saturday advances in the east of the country, in particular the entry of its troops into the key city of Kupiansk, Moscow announcing for its part to withdraw troops from this area to “reinforce further south the pro-Russian separatist region of Donetsk.
In the evening, the Ukrainian president was delighted that “about 2,000 km of our territory have been liberated since the beginning of September”. And the Russian army made “a good choice to flee”, added Volodymyr Zelensky, because “there is no place for the occupiers in Ukraine and there will not be”.
He did not specify whether it was km2. Thursday, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army said that his troops had taken over 1,000 km2.
In the east, Ukrainian forces earlier announced that they had entered the city of Kupyansk, which lies on Russian army supply routes. A new stage in kyiv’s recent lightning counter-offensive which enabled it to retake whole swaths of territory.
“Kupyansk is Ukraine,” a regional official wrote on social media, posting a photo of Ukrainian soldiers in the city of 27,000. The special forces also released images showing their officers “in Kupyansk, which has been and will always be Ukrainian”.
This new advance by kyiv south of Kharkiv could significantly affect Russia’s ability to supply and provide effective logistical support to its positions on the eastern front.
The day before, Mr. Zelensky had announced that his forces had taken over 30 localities in this border region of Russia.
Ukrainian flag raised
On Saturday, AFP journalists saw charred Russian trucks and armored vehicles there, some of which were still stamped with the letter Z, symbol of the invasion of Ukraine launched on February 24. Ukrainian soldiers were patrolling Balakliïa, the main reconquered town, where the Ukrainian flag flew.
This flag was hoisted there in the presence of the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Oleksandre Syrski, according to a video of the Ukrainian Defense posted on Twitter.
“Today we complete the liberation of Balaklya, the first major city of our offensive, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Kupyansk is ahead of us, our troops have already taken half of it. And still ahead, Izioum and many others”, he declared on this occasion.
The head of the Russian occupation administration in the Izium region, Vladislav Sokolov, for his part acknowledged that the situation there was “difficult”.
“For the past two weeks, the city has been targeted by bombardments by Ukrainian forces, in particular with Himar-type ammunition (…) which is causing serious destruction and causing many deaths and injuries,” he said. told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Himars are multiple rocket launchers supplied to kyiv by Washington.
Moscow “gathers” forces near Donetsk
The Russian Ministry of Defense then announced that it had “withdrawn” its forces present “in the regions of Balakliïa and Izium”, in order to “reinforce the efforts” further south, around Donetsk, one of the capitals of the separatists. prorussians.
A region where the situation is “difficult”, commented on Saturday its pro-Russian separatist leader, Denis Pushilin.
In Lyman, a town that fell to Moscow forces at the end of May, “the situation remains quite difficult, as in other localities in the north of the People’s Republic of Donetsk, he said in a video. on Telegram.
“Ukrainian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine, liberating more towns and villages. Their courage added to Western military support is yielding surprising results,” said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko. , on social networks.
“Sending arms to Ukraine is crucial. Defeating Russia on the battlefield means winning peace in Ukraine,” he added.
The Ukrainians also claimed to be making progress in the south of the country. “Our soldiers are advancing on the front lines in the south in several areas ranging from two to several tens of kilometers,” spokeswoman for the military command of southern Ukraine, Natalia Goumenyuk, told local media, without further ado. details.
In the northeast, near Kharkiv, Russian forces announced on Friday that they had sent reinforcements against kyiv’s successful counter-offensive.
“They can continue to count on us”
In the village of Grakové, just recaptured by Ukrainian forces, AFP journalists saw destruction on Friday testifying to the violence of the fighting, electricity pylons downed and cables spread on the ground.
“It was scary, there were shelling and explosions everywhere,” Anatoly Vasiliev, 61, told AFP.
The bodies of two civilians, with traces of torture and bullet holes in the back of the head, were discovered there, announced on Saturday the office of the attorney general who opened an investigation and a forensic examination of the bodies.
According to this source, after the recapture of Grakové, a resident went to the police claiming that Russian soldiers had forced him to bury the two bodies.
On Saturday, the head of German diplomacy Annalena Baerbock arrived in kyiv for a surprise visit (her second since the start of the war), a week after that of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal in Berlin, where he had again requested the sending of arms to his country.
“They can continue to count on us. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, with the delivery of arms, with humanitarian and financial support,” Baerbock said, according to a statement.
In recent weeks, Germany has delivered howitzers, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. They are part of the military arsenal provided by the West which, according to experts, has contributed to affecting the capabilities of Russian forces.
Ms. Baerbock’s visit also comes after a trip by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who promised new military aid of $2.8 billion.
During a meeting in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Mr Blinken said Russia’s sending of reinforcements showed it was paying “a huge price” in its bid to seize the Ukrainian territory.
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