Ukrainian troops make gains on eastern front, Zelenskiy visits front-line areas

KYIV, Ukraine – In a significant development on Monday, Ukraine announced that its troops had successfully regained additional territory on the eastern front while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made visits to two front-line areas. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar provided updates on the progress of the counteroffensive against Russian forces, marking a notable shift in the ongoing conflict.

Over the past week, Ukrainian forces have reclaimed approximately 3 square kilometers (1.16 square miles) of land in the vicinity of the eastern city of Bakhmut. This city had fallen into the hands of Russian troops in May following months of intense fighting. Additionally, Deputy Defence Minister Maliar reported unspecified “success” in the direction of the villages Novodanylivka and Novoprokopivka, situated in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia. However, detailed information regarding these advances was not disclosed.

Since the commencement of its counteroffensive in early June, Ukraine has now recaptured around 47 square kilometers of territory surrounding Bakhmut, as stated by Maliar via the Telegram messaging app.

It’s important to note that Reuters has been unable to independently verify these reports, and Russia has not officially confirmed the Ukrainian advances. Both sides have previously claimed minor victories, often in the form of capturing small villages or pockets of land.

In a show of support and appreciation for the Ukrainian troops, videos released on the Ukrainian presidential website depicted President Zelenskiy visiting soldiers in the eastern Donetsk region, where Bakhmut is located, and in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Ukrainian forces are pushing southward in an attempt to reach the Sea of Azov. During these visits, President Zelenskiy presented medals to soldiers and expressed gratitude to medics at a field hospital situated on the southern front.

Addressing the nation during his nightly address, delivered from a train, President Zelenskiy emphasized that the feedback from the soldiers regarding the conflict’s progression would be taken seriously. He acknowledged their concerns and stated, “Everything that our fighters talked about will be put to participants in meetings of the command, especially regarding electronic warfare. Guys, we heard you.”

Criticism from Western media regarding the pace and tactics of Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been met with resistance from Kyiv officials. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba sternly stated last week that critics should “shut up.”

Despite encountering vast Russian minefields and trenches, Deputy Defence Minister Maliar previously reported that Ukrainian troops had successfully penetrated the first line of Russian defenses, offering hope for a more rapid advance in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Moscow continues to launch airstrikes on Ukrainian targets, including critical port infrastructure and has reported drone attacks on Russian territory. A statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, posted on Telegram on Monday, quoted an officer with the code name “Hedgehog” as saying, “The enemy is attacking strongly and seriously, but we are standing firm. We will not let them through.”

As the situation on the eastern front evolves, the international community closely watches these developments, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

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