In its counter-offensive in the east of the country, the Ukrainian army penetrated deep into the rear of the occupying Russian forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Thursday evening confirmed the recapture of the district city of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region. “As part of the ongoing defense operations, our heroes have already liberated dozens of settlements,” he said in his video address.
“Ukraine is and will remain free,” the Ukrainian head of state promised on Thursday evening. Since the beginning of September, the army has recaptured more than 1,000 square kilometers of Ukraine. However, according to previous reports, Russian troops occupy about 125,000 square kilometers in Ukraine. That is one fifth of the national territory, including the Crimean peninsula.
“Free city under the open sky”
The small town of Balaklija, which had a population of about 27,000 before the war, was occupied by Russian troops for several months. As proof of the recapture, Selenskyj published a video recording on the town hall (see above). In front of the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag, a soldier reported to the president about the capture of the city. “Russian troops have withdrawn,” the soldier explains, standing on a flag of Russia. “The flag of Ukraine over a free Ukrainian city under a free Ukrainian sky,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Internet videos show passers-by waving or crying hugging the Ukrainian soldiers (see tweets below). The government used by Russia for the conquered areas around Kharkov claimed that Balaklija and the city of Shevchenkove were still under Russian control. The Interfax agency reported that reserves went to war, citing the head of the administration, Andrei Alexejenko.
According to the general staff in Kiev, Ukrainian troops have already moved about 50 kilometers to the east. The attack extends beyond Balakliya towards the city of Kupyansk. There is an important railway junction through which Russia supplies its troops for the attack on the Donbass. In Kuyansk, the occupation administration ordered the evacuation of women and children.
“Russian Armed Forces Too Widespread”
The Russian military leadership was apparently surprised by the attack at Balaklija, US military expert Michael Kofman analyzed on Twitter. “The Russian troops were spread too far.” There are hardly any reserves there. In contrast to the rapid advance to the east, Ukraine’s other counter-offensive to the south in the Kherson region appears to be very systematic.
According to Justice Minister Denys Maliuska, Ukraine wants to push through war reparations from Russia of at least 300 billion dollars (about 300 billion euros). At the UN General Assembly, Kiev aims to reach a resolution as the cornerstone for an international recovery mechanism, Maliuska said during a visit to Berlin.
More missiles on Kharkiv
Meanwhile, Russian missiles hit the city of Kharkov again overnight, according to local authorities. Several houses were hit, no one was injured.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
