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Reuters: Ukrainian general says huge gains made in lightning counteroffensive
(Caption: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets children during U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to the children's hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine September 8, 2022. Genya Savilov/Pool via REUTERS)
(link) https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-counter-attack-underway-un-pushes-nuclear-plants-safety-2022-09-07/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=daily-briefing&utm_term=09-08-2022
KYIV, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Ukraine has recaptured more than 700 sq km (270 sq miles) of its territory in the east and south during a lightning counteroffensive, a Ukrainian general said on Thursday, offering the first official assessment of the operation.
The gains, if confirmed and held, would be a serious blow for Russia, which Western intelligence services say has suffered huge casualties. They would also represent a big boost for Kyiv, which is keen to show its Western backers that it can change the facts on the ground by force and deserves continued support.
Some of the biggest gains appear to have been made this week during a surprise Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, which saw Kyiv's forces make a sudden and deep thrust behind Russian lines.
Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov told a news briefing that Ukrainian forces had advanced up to 50 kilometres (30 miles) behind Russian lines and recaptured more than 20 villages in the Kharkiv region.
He singled out the role of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones.
"Enemy infantry and motorized artillery units unprotected by air defence systems become easy prey for our Bayraktars, the quantity of which is always increasing, thanks to our volunteers," said Gromov.
The gains, if confirmed and held, would be a serious blow for Russia, which Western intelligence services say has suffered huge casualties. They would also represent a big boost for Kyiv, which is keen to show its Western backers that it can change the facts on the ground by force and deserves continued support.
Some of the biggest gains appear to have been made this week during a surprise Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine, which saw Kyiv's forces make a sudden and deep thrust behind Russian lines.
Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov told a news briefing that Ukrainian forces had advanced up to 50 kilometres (30 miles) behind Russian lines and recaptured more than 20 villages in the Kharkiv region.
He singled out the role of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones.
"Enemy infantry and motorized artillery units unprotected by air defence systems become easy prey for our Bayraktars, the quantity of which is always increasing, thanks to our volunteers," said Gromov.
- more at link -
