Ukraine begins its counteroffensive’s “main thrust,” pushing over Russian barriers

In the southeast of the country, wherein US officials claim Kyiv has begun its “main thrust” to breach Russia’s defenses, Ukrainian forces have intensified their counteroffensive.

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, acknowledged on Wednesday that battles had “significantly escalated,” but asserted that Moscow’s soldiers succeeded in holding off the Ukrainians’ assault.

Putin described the “heroism” of his soldiers engaged in combat in the Zaporizhzhia area, claiming that Kyiv’s drive “wasn’t succeeded” despite the Russian forces’ infliction of severe losses.

According to the Russian state press agency TASS, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its soldiers had defeated Ukrainian assaults on the village of Klishchiivka nearby Bakhmut and north of the city of Robotyne on the front lines in the Zaporizhzhia area.