Ukraine war: Kyiv forces step up counteroffensive, as Russia claims they're fighting back▼

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Published 113d ago

<p>After weeks of preparation, the Ukrainian army may finally have launched the bulk of its offensive in an attempt to break through the Russian defences in the hope of a success that is vital for the continuation of the war.</p> <p>In line with their policy over the last few days, authorities in Kyiv are remaining very vague about their actions, perpetuating the fog of war.</p> <p>Russia said on Friday that it had repelled several Ukrainian attacks in southern Ukraine, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia region.</p> <p>"Over the last 24 hours, Ukrainian forces have continued their attempts to carry out offensives in the Yuzhno-Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions", the Russian Ministry of Defence said in a statement, assuring that these had been repelled thanks to "decisive actions (...) by Russian forces units".</p> <div class="widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center"> <div class="widget__wrapper"> <div class="widget__ratio widget__ratio—auto"> <div class="widget__contents"> <figure class="widget__figure"> <div class="widget__tweet" data-tweet-id="1666863665163665425"></div> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Many observers, including the American analysis centre Institute for the Study of War (ISW), believe that "the Ukrainian counter-offensive has begun", although they do not expect "a single major operation" but a series of different coordinated actions, as is currently the case.</p> <p>For weeks now, Kyiv has been carefully planning its offensive, taking innovative measures to shape the battlefield: drone strikes on Moscow, attacks on Russian soil, and reconnaissance in force to test the enemy&#039;s defences.</p> <p>Ukraine is playing for big stakes. Less populated, cut off from part of its territory, its inhabitants under recurring fire from deep Russian strikes, on a drip-feed of Western military equipment... The authorities know that they will not have countless opportunities to push back the Russians and reclaim the occupied territories.</p> Source