“The future of Ukraine directly depends on the strength of our resistance in all its forms. The future of us all, each of our cities, each of our villages,” Zelensky said in a statement.
“And I am grateful to everyone who understands this. Who does not stop resisting even when it seems that the result is very far. Because the darkest time is always before dawn,” he added.
These waves of arrests came after some settlements in the Kharkiv region, east of Ukraine, had been reclaimed by the Ukrainian forces.
“As a result of the coordinated actions of the personal composition of the units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in Kharkiv region, the settlements of Cherkasy Tyshki, Ruski Tyshki, Rubížne, and Bayrak were released,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced in a Facebook post.
If true, the success of the ongoing counter-offensive could indicate a shift in the war momentum shortly after Moscow had repositioned their forces in the east. This could also force the Russian offensive further south as they lose some foothold in the east.
Kharkiv, which is approximately just 20 miles from the Russia border, has been one of the first major cities to experience the tragedies of the invasion and has been the target of heavy shelling since late February. Today, it is returning fire as it was reported that M777A2 155mm howitzers had been already operational and were reported to have destroyed a Russian 2S3 Akatsiya 152mm SPG near Izyum, Kharkiv.
#Ukraine: M777A2 155mm howitzers, donated by the Western countries, are being used more and more often by the Ukrainian army on the front lines- this time, as reported, it destroyed a Russian 2S3 Akatsiya 152mm SPG near Izium, #Kharkiv Oblast.https://t.co/P74mYytpB6 pic.twitter.com/8xpfabadnS
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 11, 2022
Ukrainian forces have also reportedly reclaimed the settlement of Ternova, which is just 2 miles from the Russian border. Heavy fighting, however, continues in the areas near Izyum, south of Kharkiv, as well as around Kherson, a city that has been in Russian control since the beginning of the invasion.
Although modest for now, these gains can also translate into larger wins as the Russian advance loses momentum. If Kharkiv is completely liberated, elite Ukrainian fighters will be freed up to bolster the advance down south.
The advances also put the city of Vovchans’k within artillery range. The city is a major link in the Russian supply line as it links the Russian mainland and its frontline in the Donbas. This brings up the opportunity for Ukraine to threaten, or even cut off completely, the supply line passing through that area.
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