President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces have secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops entered Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region earlier this month.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces have secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops entered the northeastern Kharkiv region earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Meanwhile, two people were killed Saturday in an aerial attack on the city of Kharkiv, which is the region’s capital, according to local officials.

Kharkiv is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian border. Moscow’s troops have in recent weeks captured villages in the area as part of a broad push, and analysts say they may be trying to get within artillery range of the city. Ukrainian authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the region since the start of the offensive on May 10.

“Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Friday evening.

Zelenskyy’s comments appeared to be at odds with those made by Russian officials.

  • zephyreks@lemmy.mlEnglish
    72·
    6 months ago

    No mappers seem to confirm this… There are reports of Ukrainian counteroffensives in the area, but nothing that goes so far as to indicate that Ukraine has taken back control of all of Russia’s territorial gains there. If anything, it’s starting to look like another stalemate along a new frontline.

    Is Zelensky talking out of his ass? Are mappers receiving delayed data? Who knows…

    • Geobloke@lemm.eeEnglish
      5·
      6 months ago

      I think it’s where Zed said its “combat control,” meaning that they can call on fire missions on the whole area, not that they reoccupied the land

      • zephyreks@lemmy.mlEnglish
        12·
        6 months ago

        I mean… No shit? ATACMS has a range of 300km, and it’s not like Russia’s pushed the front line 300km.