For its part, Moscow has issued images in which it assures that it repelled a large-scale attack in Donetsk
Ukraine and Russia show their advances on the battlefield. The Ukrainian army has published these images, in which they claim that they are gaining ground in the surroundings of the city of Bakhmut.
According to kyiv, its forces are “taking offensive action” in some areas. At the moment, it is not clear if this is part of the announced counteroffensive that Ukraine has been preparing for months with the aim of withdrawing Russia from the occupied territories. But the country’s president, Volodimir Zelensky, made reference to Bakhmut in his late-night speech.
“I thank each of our soldiers, all of our defenders, who gave us the news that we are waiting for today. Bakhmut leadership, well done soldiers!” Zelensky declared.
British Foreign Secretary travels to kyiv
Before making his usual statement, the president held a meeting in kyiv with the UK Foreign Minister, James Cleverly.
This visit, Cleverly’s second to kyiv, is aimed at preparing the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine that will take place this month in London.
Cleverly has also used the occasion to show his full support for the former Soviet republic in its fight against Russia.
“Ukraine will win this war and can count on our support,” Cleverly declared in a press release. “These are the acts of a hostile regime that violates the UN Charter,” the founding treaty of the United Nations, she says.
Moscow releases videos of Ukrainian attacks
For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense has published some images in which it assures that it repelled the large-scale Ukrainian attack in the Donetsk region a few days ago.
According to Moscow, his troops had killed “more than 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers” and destroyed “28 tanks.” This claim was ridiculed by the leader of the Russian Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has a history of fierce criticism of the General Staff.
“It’s nothing more than fantasy,” Prigozhin said in a message on Telegram. Killing 1,500 soldiers in one day is “quite a massacre,” he joked, mocking Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov. “Actually, why don’t we add up all the numbers Konashenkov gave us? I think we’ve already destroyed the entire planet Earth five times,” he sneered.
“Why are the Russians actively publishing information about a counteroffensive? Because they need to divert attention (from) the defeat in the direction of Bakhmut,” Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar said on Telegram.
Various Ukrainian authorities have also ironized Moscow’s reaction to the latest events of the war.
“We see how Russia reacts hysterically to every advance we make in this sector, to every position we take. The enemy knows that Ukraine is going to win,” Zelensky said in a video message.
Russian state television has also broadcast footage showing destruction in southwestern Russian border towns in the Belgorod region.
Some experts see the attacks as part of Ukraine’s efforts to distract Moscow and strengthen its army to help the counteroffensive succeed.