KYIV, June 10 (Reuters)
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged on Saturday that his military was engaged in "counter-offensive and defensive operations" a day after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said Kyiv's long-vaunted drive to retake territory was well under way. But the Ukrainian leader disclosed no details, telling reporters to pass on to Putin that his generals were optimistic.
"Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at," Zelenskiy said, listing Ukraine's top military brass by name.
"They (the generals) are all in a positive mood. Pass that on to Putin," he said with a smile, standing alongside visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Russia's Defence Ministry on Saturday said Ukrainian forces had in the past 24 hours made "unsuccessful" attempts to attack in the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions -- two areas subject to heavy fighting.
The ministry also mentioned Bakhmut, the eastern town Moscow says it captured last month after 10 months of fierce battles. Reuters was not able to independently verify the situation on the battlefield.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy again provided few details while urging troops to keep fighting.
"Thank you to all those who holds their positions and those who advance," he said, citing the eastern and southern fronts, where fighting is heaviest.
Ukraine's general staff said its forces had repelled enemy attacks around Bakhmut and the long besieged town of Maryinka. Russian forces, it said, "continue to suffer heavy losses which they are trying to conceal".
Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi reported new gains near Bakhmut.
"We're trying...to conduct strikes on the enemy, we are counter-attacking. We've managed to advance up to 1,400 metres (0.87 mile) on various sections of the front," Cherevatyi said.
Ukraine has said for months it plans a major counter-offensive. But it had denied the main operation has begun. With scant independent reporting from the front lines, it has been difficult to assess the state of the fighting.
Britain's Ministry of Defence said Ukraine had conducted "significant" operations in several eastern and southern parts in the last 48 hours, with Russian defences breached in places.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksiy Hetman told NV Radio the events of recent days were only initial steps.
"What is happening now could be called 'reconnaissance in battle' - the first stage of the offensive," Hetman said. "It was impossible to make progress in depth. The goal was to check the enemy's defences. Let's wait a few days and see."
Source
Jun 10, 2023 - Press ISW
Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four areas of the front on June 10. Russian sources reported Ukrainian activity in Luhansk Oblast near Bilohorivka. Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty noted that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 1,400m in unspecified areas of the Bakhmut front, and Russian milbloggers reported Ukrainian advances northwest and northeast of Bakhmut.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and other Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian troops conducted localized attacks in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, particularly in the Velyka Novosilka area. Geolocated footage posted on June 10 additionally indicates that Ukrainian forces in western Zaporizhia Oblast made localized gains during counterattacks southwest and southeast of Orikhiv, and Russian milbloggers continued to claim that Russian forces in this area are successfully defending against attempted Ukrainian advances.
Source: The Instititute for the Study of War
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged on Saturday that his military was engaged in "counter-offensive and defensive operations" a day after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said Kyiv's long-vaunted drive to retake territory was well under way. But the Ukrainian leader disclosed no details, telling reporters to pass on to Putin that his generals were optimistic.
"Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at," Zelenskiy said, listing Ukraine's top military brass by name.
"They (the generals) are all in a positive mood. Pass that on to Putin," he said with a smile, standing alongside visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Russia's Defence Ministry on Saturday said Ukrainian forces had in the past 24 hours made "unsuccessful" attempts to attack in the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions -- two areas subject to heavy fighting.
The ministry also mentioned Bakhmut, the eastern town Moscow says it captured last month after 10 months of fierce battles. Reuters was not able to independently verify the situation on the battlefield.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy again provided few details while urging troops to keep fighting.
"Thank you to all those who holds their positions and those who advance," he said, citing the eastern and southern fronts, where fighting is heaviest.
Ukraine's general staff said its forces had repelled enemy attacks around Bakhmut and the long besieged town of Maryinka. Russian forces, it said, "continue to suffer heavy losses which they are trying to conceal".
Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi reported new gains near Bakhmut.
"We're trying...to conduct strikes on the enemy, we are counter-attacking. We've managed to advance up to 1,400 metres (0.87 mile) on various sections of the front," Cherevatyi said.
Ukraine has said for months it plans a major counter-offensive. But it had denied the main operation has begun. With scant independent reporting from the front lines, it has been difficult to assess the state of the fighting.
Britain's Ministry of Defence said Ukraine had conducted "significant" operations in several eastern and southern parts in the last 48 hours, with Russian defences breached in places.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksiy Hetman told NV Radio the events of recent days were only initial steps.
"What is happening now could be called 'reconnaissance in battle' - the first stage of the offensive," Hetman said. "It was impossible to make progress in depth. The goal was to check the enemy's defences. Let's wait a few days and see."
Source
Jun 10, 2023 - Press ISW
Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations in at least four areas of the front on June 10. Russian sources reported Ukrainian activity in Luhansk Oblast near Bilohorivka. Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty noted that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 1,400m in unspecified areas of the Bakhmut front, and Russian milbloggers reported Ukrainian advances northwest and northeast of Bakhmut.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and other Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian troops conducted localized attacks in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, particularly in the Velyka Novosilka area. Geolocated footage posted on June 10 additionally indicates that Ukrainian forces in western Zaporizhia Oblast made localized gains during counterattacks southwest and southeast of Orikhiv, and Russian milbloggers continued to claim that Russian forces in this area are successfully defending against attempted Ukrainian advances.
Source: The Instititute for the Study of War
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