Ukraine has recaptured territory held by Russia since 2014, UK says – as Zelenskyy visits frontline

Ukrainian forces have “highly likely” recaptured an space of territory occupied by Russia since 2014, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has mentioned.

In a brand new intelligence replace, British officers mentioned small advances have been made east from Krasnohorivka close to Donetsk, which sits on the previous Line of Control.

“Recent multiple concurrent Ukrainian assaults throughout the Donbas” might have additionally left separatist forces within the space overstretched, the UK’s evaluation added.

This is believed to be one of many first situations of beneficial properties being made for the reason that struggle started final February.

Whereabouts of Wagner boss confirmed – dwell updates

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that his troops had made frontline advances “in all directions”.

He visited troopers within the east and south of the nation – together with Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia – handing out awards and posing for pictures on a journey that spanned “hundreds of kilometres”.

And in his nightly video deal with delivered from a prepare, Mr Zelenskyy described it as a “happy day” the place he met “absolutely heroic people”.

Sky’s defence and safety analyst Professor Michael Clarke says Ukraine is capitalising on Russian chaos attributable to Wagner’s rebel over the weekend.

“They [the Ukrainians] have used this opportunity to increase the pressure all the way across the front to see where the gaps are,” he mentioned.

Professor Clarke mentioned Wagner troops made up a good portion of the Russian frontlines – and questioned whether or not they would return following relaxation after the battle for Bakhmut and the latest mutiny.

He identified that the Volga and Wagner teams make as much as 25% of the power preventing on the Russian frontline, which means Putin’s regime “may have lost a rather important part of their reinforcement process”.

Read extra:
Putin meets troops after failed mutiny
What does this imply for struggle in Ukraine?

EU international coverage chief Josep Borrell instructed that the tried armed rebel exhibits the struggle is “cracking Russia’s political system”.

He mentioned: “The monster that Putin created with Wagner, the monster is biting him now. The monster is acting against his creator.”

Amid newfound momentum since his counteroffensive started, Mr Zelenskyy has held conferences with high generals on the Ukrainian army’s subsequent steps.

The president has additionally been engaged in negotiations with allies, together with US President Joe Biden, about weapons provide packages.

“All our land will be free – absolutely all of it,” his video deal with concluded.