The Ukraine military counteroffensive HAS sent Russian military unit’s retreating in several places (South East AND North East…..
This could be a significant change in the conflict and HAS TO BE a disappointment to Russian President to deal with….
His military seems to have lost the will to fight….
In his nightly video address on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukraine had now liberated 2,000 sq km (700 sq miles) from Russia since beginning a renewed counter-offensive earlier this month.
His claim would suggest that half of that area has been recaptured in the last 48 hours alone – as it is twice the area of territory Mr Zelensky said had been liberated when he spoke on Thursday evening.
Russia’s admission of a withdrawal from Izyum is significant because it was a major military hub for Moscow.
“A three-day operation was carried out on the drawdown and organised transfer of the Izyum-Balakliya group of troops to the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the Russian statement said.
“In order to prevent damage to the Russian troops, a powerful fire defeat was inflicted on the enemy.”
Shortly afterwards, the chief administrator of Russian-controlled parts of the Kharkiv region recommended that its residents evacuate to Russia “to save lives”, according to the Russian state-run Tass news agency.
And the governor of the neighbouring Belgorod region, in Russia, said mobile catering, heating, and medical assistance would be available to people queuing to cross the border.
The advances will be seen as a sign that Ukraine’s army has the capacity to retake Russian-occupied territory, crucial as Kyiv continues to ask its hard-pressed Western allies for military support….
Here’s what we know:
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed its forces had withdrawn from Izium. Ukraine’s lightning offensive in the northeast has reshaped what had become a grinding war of attrition.
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Russia withdraws its forces from Izium, a logistics hub in the northeast.
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The southern counteroffensive has been a battle of river crossings. So far, Ukraine has advanced.
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Zelensky expresses optimism that more of Ukraine’s lost territory can be reclaimed.
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Rebuilding Ukraine will cost at least $349 billion, a new report estimates.
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Russians are voting for the first time since the invasion.
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Putin himself has maintained a conspicuous silence on the military setbacks, even though news of the retreats are starting to filter onto state media. Somewhat surreally, Putin took part in the inauguration of a giant Ferris wheel on Saturday to celebrate the anniversary of the city of Moscow.
He made only passing reference to the Ukraine conflict in his speech, noting that the events were attended by “servicemen fighting for a peaceful life in the Donbas, […] families, of those our comrades-in-arms, who died, gave their lives for Russia.”
Usually loyal Russian military pundits — and even one official — have started querying the competence of those leading the Ukraine war. Daniil Bezsonov, deputy information minister for the Moscow-backed Donetsk People’s Republic, said that the retreat from Izyum and other settlements around Kharkiv was “of course … the result of mistakes made by the high command.”
Moscow was forced to withdraw its forces in order to avoid the encirclement of its large military group based in Izyum and the vicinity…..