Trying to Take Their Country Back

The embattled nation of Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive in an attempt to retake control of their homeland and drive Russian forces back to theirs. The United States Department of Defense defines a counteroffensive as “a large-scale offensive undertaken by defensive forces to seize the initiative from the attacking force.” In this instance, the “attacking force” would be the Russians, who launched their invasion of Ukraine on February 24th of this year.

Ukrainian President Zelensky sits behind his desk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed his nation on August 29th, 2022. Image Credit: Office of the President of Ukraine

In his address to the nation on August 29th, President Volodomyr Zelensky made it clear to his fellow citizens that he wanted the Russian invaders out of Ukraine. Here is part of what he had to say:

“Ukraine is returning its own. And it will return the Kharkiv region, Luhansk region, Donetsk region, Zaporizhzhia region, Kherson region, Crimea, definitely our entire water area of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov – from Zmiinyi Island to the Kerch Strait. This will happen. This is ours. And just as our society understands it, I want the occupiers to understand it, too. There will be no place for them on Ukrainian land.”

He goes on to mention that he will not, of course, inform them of his exact plans because that would be irresponsible.

Zelensky then addresses Russian fighters on an individual level by letting them know,

“If they want to survive, it is time for the Russian military to flee. Go home. If you are afraid to return to your home in Russia – well, let such occupiers surrender, and we will guarantee them compliance with all norms of the Geneva Conventions. If they do not listen to me, they will deal with our defenders…”

It’s a clear warning, get out while you still can because we are coming for you.

That was on Monday; by Tuesday, according to WION News, “heavy fighting” began in “almost the entire territory” of the Kherson region. Russian forces have occupied the Ukrainian territory of Kherson Oblast since March 2nd, 2022.