In the south of the country, the Russian occupiers met “fierce resistance”, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Saluschny wrote in Telegram on Monday. The Ukrainian advance is being hampered by fortifications, dense minefields and a “large number of reserves”.
“The operation will continue according to plan,” Zalushnyj assured. In a video, he was also shown together with Chief of Staff Serhiy Schaptala at a command center near the front. In doing so, Zalushnyj countered rumors in Russian state media that had claimed for some time that he was seriously injured in a rocket attack in May.
Intense fighting in eastern Ukraine
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar reported a “difficult situation” and heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine. The Russian military is trying to regain the initiative in Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region and in Lyman in the adjacent Luhansk region, she said.
Ukraine has been repelling a Russian invasion for nearly 16 months. Almost two weeks ago, the Ukrainian army launched a long-awaited counter-offensive. Since then, according to Kiev, eight villages and a good 113 square kilometers have been liberated.