Ukraine leader promises victory during frontline town visit as Russia digs in

IZIUM, Ukraine, Sept 14 (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy promised he would lead Ukraine to victory in its battle in opposition to Russia as he visited shrapnel-blasted, just lately recaptured cities on Wednesday, however pro-Russian officers mentioned that they had halted Kyiv’s forces for now.

Russian forces suffered a shocking reversal this month after Ukrainian troops made a speedy armoured thrust with particular forces in the northeastern area of Kharkiv, forcing a typically rushed and chaotic Russian withdrawal.

Zelenskiy on Wednesday made a shock visit to the town of Izium, round 15 km (9.3 miles) from the present frontline in the east. He thanked his troopers for liberating the town, an vital logistics hub, whose buildings and folks now bear the scars of battle

“Our blue-yellow flag is already flying in de-occupied Izium. And it will be so in every Ukrainian city and village,” Zelenskiy mentioned in a social media publish coinciding with the visit.

“We are moving in only one direction – forward and towards victory.”

Earlier on Wednesday, an emotional-looking Zelenskiy handed out medals to troopers who had taken half in the operation to free the world in Balakliia, one other town retaken in latest days the place residents and native police instructed reporters civilians have been killed during months of Russian occupation. learn extra

Reuters couldn’t independently confirm the claims. Russia denies intentionally focusing on civilians.

The president says his military had liberated round 8,000 sq. km (3,100 sq. miles) of territory up to now this month, a swath of land almost equal to the island of Cyprus.

Reuters was not in a position to instantly confirm the complete scope of battlefield successes claimed by Ukraine.

Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Zelenskiy, mentioned Ukrainian troops have been now making an attempt to retake the Russian-held town of Lyman in Ukraine’s Donetsk area and have been eyeing territorial beneficial properties in the neighbouring Luhansk area which is beneath Russian management.

“There is now an assault on Lyman,” Arestovych mentioned in a video posted on YouTube.

“And that is what they fear most – that we take Lyman and then advance on Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk,” he mentioned, referring to twin cities in the Luhansk area taken by Russia after fierce preventing in June and July.

Denis Pushilin, head of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, mentioned troops loyal to Moscow had efficiently pushed again Ukrainian forces making an attempt to make inroads into Lyman, and to the north and south of the town.

“Nothing worked out for the enemy,” mentioned Pushilin.

Asked whether or not Ukraine’s lightning counter offensive in the east was a turning level in the battle, U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned it was laborious to inform.

“It’s clear the Ukrainians have made significant progress. But I think it’s going to be a long haul,” mentioned Biden.

Russian forces nonetheless management a few fifth of the nation in the south and east, although Kyiv is now on the offensive in each areas.

The White House, which has offered billions of {dollars} of weapons and help to Ukraine, has mentioned the United States is prone to announce a brand new army assist package deal in the “coming days”.

DEVASTATION

In recaptured Izium, Zelenskiy watched as the Ukrainian flag was raised in entrance of the charred metropolis council constructing.

On the principle thoroughfare, no buildings have been left unscathed: a derelict tub home had a gap blasted in its facet; meat retailers, pharmacies, a shoe store and a magnificence salon have been sprayed with shrapnel.

“I know this region very well,” Zelenskiy instructed reporters.

“The view is shocking, but it is not shocking for me because we… saw the same pictures from Bucha, from the first de-occupied territories. The same destroyed buildings, killed people.”

After a Russian retreat earlier in the battle, useless civilians have been discovered in the town of Bucha, close to Kyiv.

On the highway into Izium, bus stops have been daubed with “Z” markings, the image Russian forces use to establish themselves, and the charred stays of tanks and armoured personnel carriers lay by the highway facet.

With a pink hood wrapped round her face for heat, Liubov Sinna, 74, mentioned residents have been nonetheless fearful.

“We waited a very long time for our guys. Of course we really feel constructive. Joy. But there’s additionally worry – worry that the Russians might return right here,” she mentioned.

“Because we lived by means of this complete six months. We sat it out in cellars. We went by means of all the things it’s doable to undergo. We completely can’t say that we really feel protected.”

There was no fuel, electrical energy, or water provide in the town, she added, saying she was uncertain how individuals would get by means of winter.

In a move that suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin had wider war aims when he ordered troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, three people close to the Russian leadership told Reuters that Putin had rejected a provisional deal with Kyiv around the time the war began. read more

They mentioned the deal would have glad Russia’s demand that Ukraine keep out of NATO. The Kremlin mentioned the Reuters report had “completely no relation to actuality.” It also said Ukraine’s ongoing ambitions to join the Western NATO military alliance still presented a threat to Russia. read more

On top of its reversals in Ukraine, Russian authorities are also facing challenges in other former Soviet republics with deadly fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia and border guard clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. read more

The situation in the former Soviet states will be the backdrop at a summit in Uzbekistan this week where Putin will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping and discuss the war in Ukraine. read more

Reporting by Reuters bureaux; writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.