The Ukrainian army this Friday claimed a 1.7 kilometer advance in a week towards Melitopol, in the southern part of the front line of fighting against the Russian army, in the east of the country.
Meeting with journalists, Ukrainian Armed Forces spokesman Colonel Mykola Ourchalovitch said the advance is part of the counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces, which “continue to conduct offensive operations” towards Melitopol, a key Ukrainian city. under Russian control.
“Assault brigades, supported by tanks, advanced 1.7 kilometers in a week in this area,” he said.
Ourchalovitch, representative of the Ukrainian National Guard, added that around Kherson, also in eastern Ukraine, “the forces will continue to put pressure on the enemy” through reconnaissance and combat operations to “prepare the area for offensive action “.
In eastern Ukraine, he explained, National Guard units are logistically preparing to extend the offensive beyond Avdiivka, where fighting has recently been recorded.
Avdiivka, controlled by Ukraine, has a population of about 30,000 and is practically next to Donetsk, the Russian-controlled regional capital.
The military offensive in Ukraine launched by Russia has so far displaced nearly 15 million people, both internally and to European countries, according to the latest UN data, which classify this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1939). ). 1945).
Currently, at least 18 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and housing.
The invasion, justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security, was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Kiev and imposing sanctions to impose. to Moscow.
The UN presented as confirmed more than 8,000 civilian deaths and about 14,000 wounded since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are far below the real ones.
Source: DN
