Ukraine announces a military advance over “several tens of km” in the South


Europe 1 with AFP
modified to

8:22 p.m., September 10, 2022

Ukraine announced on Saturday a military advance over “several tens of kilometers” in several areas of the southern front, in territories captured by the Russian army at the start of the invasion in February.

“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. In the east, Ukraine claims to have regained control of the city of Kupyansk, which lies on supply routes for the Russian army.

This new victory for kyiv in the Kharkiv region could significantly affect Russia’s ability to supply and provide effective logistical support to its positions on the eastern front.

The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that kyiv forces had retaken 30 localities from Russian troops in this border region of Russia, in northeastern Ukraine. “Kupyansk is Ukraine,” a regional official wrote on social media, posting a photo of Ukrainian soldiers in the city of 27,000.

“How will Moscow react?”

General Jérôme Pellistrandi, editor-in-chief of the magazine Défense nationale, explains to the microphone of Europe 1 that the situation is “difficult” for the Russian forces on the ground. “The Ukrainians manage to take prisoners of war, they have prepared this surprise counter-offensive very well with the objective of resuming very quickly by means of armored and infantry raids on the cities. kyiv on the initiative, Moscow is on defense.”

What will be the consequence of this setback? “What will Moscow’s reaction be?” asked the general. “Will Moscow send back strong forces to fill the gaps, will it step up a notch?”

Reinforcements in the Kharkiv region

The Ukrainian special forces have also released images showing their officers “in Kupiansk, which has been and will always be Ukrainian”. “Ukrainian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine, liberating more towns and villages. Their courage added to Western military support is yielding surprising results,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Oleg Nikolenko said on social media. social.

“Sending arms to Ukraine is crucial. Defeating Russia on the battlefield means winning peace in Ukraine,” he added. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has meanwhile arrived in kyiv for a surprise visit in support of Ukraine.

Russia announced on Friday that it had sent reinforcements to the Kharkiv region. Russian state media broadcast footage showing columns of armor, howitzers and support vehicles rolling on unpassable roads.

The largest city recaptured by kyiv forces so far is Balaklya, whose pre-war population was estimated at 30,000.



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