Ukraine Recap: Kyiv Says Two Villages Recaptured by Its Forces

Ukraine said its forces liberated at least two villages in the east of the country Sunday in the first wave of a long-expected offensive to take back Russian-occupied territory. “We’re seeing the first results of the counteroffensive actions, localized results,” Ukrainian military spokesman Valeriy Shershen said on television.

(Bloomberg) — Ukraine said its forces liberated at least two villages in the east of the country Sunday in the first wave of a long-expected offensive to take back Russian-occupied territory. “We’re seeing the first results of the counteroffensive actions, localized results,” Ukrainian military spokesman Valeriy Shershen said on television.

Ukraine’s gains, announced in social media posts and statements by its military, couldn’t be independently verified. Russia’s Defense Ministry called the situation fluid. “Nothing extraordinary is happening,” Vladimir Rogov, a Russian occupation official in the Zaporizhzhia region, said on Telegram.

The villages, Blahodatne and Neskuchne, are in the Donetsk region near the border with Russia. Russia’s Defense Ministry said earlier Sunday it repelled an attack by Ukrainian speedboats on one of its Black Sea Naval vessels.

Evacuations continue in flooded regions of Kherson after the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed almost a week ago, causing a humanitarian and environmental disaster. Russian soldiers were again reported to attack civilians involved in rescue efforts. Three people were killed and another 10 were injured when their small boat came under fire, the region’s governor said on Telegram. 

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