Russian forces have left most of the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine after successful Ukrainian counter-attacks. This was shown on Sunday on the map that the Russian Defense Ministry made public. The Ukrainian army itself speaks of 3,000 square kilometers that they reclaimed there this weekend. Russian troops are also withdrawing from the southern Kherson region, the Ukrainian general staff claims.
The Russian army map showed that the Russian troops had retreated beyond the rivers Oskil and Severski Donets. The withdrawal was not commented on. Earlier it sounded that it was a “regroup” to strengthen the troops in Donetsk. At the beginning of this week, the Russian army still controlled about a third of the Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian army commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhny says his forces recaptured more than 3,000 square kilometers in a swift counter-offensive in eastern Ukraine. Zaluzhny wrote this on Telegram today. On Thursday evening, President Zelensky estimated the area at 1,000 square kilometers, and on Saturday evening at 2,000 square kilometers. These figures could not be independently confirmed.
Russian troops are also said to have abandoned their positions in certain places in Kherson. In the city of Nova Kachovka, Russian soldiers evacuated a hospital so that they could entrench themselves. The information could not be independently verified. Russia has not yet responded to the messages.
“The most difficult is still ahead of us”
The Ukrainian army has also reclaimed Izyum, a strategic city in eastern Ukraine, from Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky announced this in his daily video speech on the 200th day of the war. President Zelensky thanked the Ukrainian soldiers who “liberated hundreds of our towns and villages”, the most recent of which are Balaklia, Izyum and Kupyansk. “In these 200 days we have achieved a lot, but the most important and most difficult is still ahead of us,” said President Zelensky.
The Russians still control about a fifth of the country, so a quick end to the war is not yet in sight, experts think. In an interview with the Financial Times, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov praised his troops but warned of the possibility of a Russian counter-attack.
Resumption of negotiations
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov opened the door on state television to resume negotiations with Ukraine. “Russia is not rejecting negotiations with Ukraine, but the longer the process is delayed, the more difficult it will be to reach an agreement,” Lavrov said.
Negotiations ended months ago. Russia is demanding, among other things, that Ukraine not become a member of NATO and that it cede the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
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