Ukraine announces first victory in Russian counterattack

Kiev's forces posted videos showing Ukrainian soldiers raising the flag in a bombed building in the village of Blahodane in the Donjeck region, and developed photos with the flag of their unit in another nearby village.

“We are seeing the first results of counterattack action, localised results”, said Valerry Schersen, spokesperson for Ukraine's military sector “Tatria”.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malar later said Ukrainian forces had freed another village in the south, and advanced between 300m and 1500m in two directions on the south front.

“No position was lost in the directions where our forces are in defense”, Maliar added to the telegram.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that a Ukrainian military push was under way, but that it had failed to break Russian defence lines and caused many casualties.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, praised Ukrainian military troops during his daily video presentation.

“Of course, I am grateful to our soldiers for this day”, Zelensky said, referring only to the two main sectors of fighting in the east and south.

Zelenskiy on Saturday gave his strongest signal that Kiev has launched the long-awaited counterattack to regain land in the east and south, confirming that <x0 counterattack and defence operations were taking place”.

Kiev authorities have implemented a rigorous period of operational silence and have called on Ukrainians to refrain from sharing any information that could jeopardise the operation.

“Objecting enemy”

With little information from Kiev and few independent reports from front lines, news agencies have been almost unable to assess the situation on the battlefield.

The video from Blahodane showed Ukrainian troops inside a heavily damaged building while artillery was ringing at a distance.

We're firing the enemy from our native lands. It's the warmest feeling there is. Ukraine will win, Ukraine will gain, above all”, a soldier said in Facebook-disposed video.

Following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in the Herson region last week, which resulted in floods and evacuation of residents from affected areas, Ukraine has made significant progress.

Ukraine and Russia blame each other for ruining the dam.

Ukrainian governor of the Herson region said Sunday that Russian forces had bombed three boats that were most elderly, killing three and injuring 10 of them.

According to Shersen, Russian forces destroyed even a smaller hydroelectric dam near the area in an effort to prevent the advance of Ukrainian forces. As a result, floods occurred on both sides of the Mokri Yali River. However, Shersen explained that this flood does not affect their ongoing counterattack actions.

The southeastern region, which is currently occupied by Russia, is seen as a major potential target for Kiev forces. Their goal is to potentially sever Russia's land link with the annexed Crimea peninsula and split Russian forces into two parts.

The Makarivka is located approximately 90km northwest of Marioupolis, a large town located on the southern coast of the Azov Sea. Last year, Russia took control of Marioupolis after surrounding it and bombarding it for several weeks.

As Russia claims to have invaded the city of Bahmut last month following the deadliest battle of its invasion in February 2022, Kiev claims to have regained territory on the outskirts of the city.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that a infantry brigade had recently advanced and seized a Russian position on the front line near the eastern town of Avdivoka.

However, no more details were given.