Britain’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine has recaptured territory it lost in 2014, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed overall gains in the ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Ukrainian airborne forces had made “small advances” eastward from the town of Krasnohrivka near Donetsk, achieving a milestone in retaking land claimed by Russia.
“This is one of the first cases since the 2022 Russian invasion where it is very likely that Ukrainian forces have recaptured an area of territory occupied by Russia since 2014,” says the latest intelligence update from the Ministry.
The ministry added that recent Ukrainian assaults on the entire Donbas region “have probably overwhelmed the Donetsk People’s Republic and Chechen forces operating in this area.”
Zelensky also praised the progress in his late-night speech on Tuesday.
«Today… the front. Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia. Our warriors, our front line positions, the active areas of operations at the front. Today, our warriors have advanced in all directions, and this is a happy day. I wished the guys more days like this,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky said that he had visited soldiers deployed on different fronts.
«I paid a visit to the Khortytsia units that heroically distinguished themselves in the battle of Bakhmut. Then our marines – very powerful, very accurate. Thank you for doing everything you can to save the lives of our warriors. Then Tavria, the south, the front. It was a busy day, full of emotions,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president says he has awarded decorations to officers.
“I presented two Gold Stars of Hero of Ukraine: to Captain Oleh Olyva, Airmobile Company Commander of the 81st Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, and to Major Serhiy Dudin, Deputy Commander of the Marine Battalion of the 35th Separate Brigade. They are great people, thank you,” Zelensky declared.
Zelensky said he also spoke with US President Joe Biden on Monday.
“Yesterday, I had conversations with partners, including President Biden, mainly about arms supplies. Today, I have been in the zone where these weapons will give more power, and more protection to the life of the Ukrainians. And they will bring our victory closer,” Zelensky declared.
patrick hilsmann
