For months, Ukraine has announced a counter-offensive in the southern areas occupied by Russia. According to the Ukrainian military, this has now started. The population should get to safety there.
The Ukrainian military has said it has launched a long-awaited counter-offensive on the southern front in the country. The responsible military command called on the civilian population to leave areas where there was a risk of fighting.
In the southern Ukrainian region of Cherson, Ukrainian troops are said to have broken through the Russian front lines. "The Armed Forces of Ukraine have started offensive actions in many areas of southern Ukraine," Hromadske said, quoting Nataliya Humenyuk, spokeswoman for the Southern Group of the Ukrainian Army. Accordingly, units of the Donetsk separatists and supporting Russian marine infantry are said to have been forced to retreat. More precise locations were not given. The information could not be independently verified.
In order to prevent a counter-offensive and tie down Ukrainian troops in the east, Russia recently intensified its attacks near the city of Donetsk. There was heavy fighting near the cities of Siwersk and Bakhmut north of Donetsk. Overall, however, the Russian units only gained a little ground.
Russia had launched an invasion of Ukraine just over six months ago. Since then it has conquered large parts of southern and eastern Ukraine. Since June, the Ukrainian leadership has been nurturing hopes of a major counter-offensive in the south.
