by Andrea Shalal and Max Hunder
MYKOLAIV, Ukraine/KYIV, Aug 30 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has urged Russian soldiers to flee the Ukrainian army’s offensive near the southern city of Kherson, saying Kyiv was in danger. regaining control of its territory, while Russia has claimed that this offensive has failed.
In a daily speech Monday evening, Volodimir Zelensky promised that the Ukrainian troops were going to hunt the Russian army “to the border”.
“If they want to survive, it’s time for the Russian soldiers to flee. Go home,” he said. “Ukraine is taking back what is its own”.
Earlier, a high-ranking adviser to the Ukrainian president declared that the Russian lines were “pierced in several hours”. The Ukrainian army is carrying out bombardments against ships used by Moscow to supply a territory located on the western bank of the Dnieper river, in the Kherson region, added Oleksi Arestovitch.
In Moscow, the Russian Defense Minister said Ukrainian troops attempted an offensive in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions but suffered heavy losses.
The “enemy’s attempted offensive failed miserably,” added the minister, quoted by the RIA news agency.
Reuters could not verify the accuracy of the accounts.
(Reporting from Reuters offices; French version Jean Terzian)