On August 29, Ukraine launched a counterattack against Russian forces in the south and east of the country. The focus was on the cities of Cherson in the south and Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. Prior to the attack, there were multiple targeted rocket attacks against the Russian army’s ammunition depots and supply and communication lines, made possible by heavy weapons from the West, such as the US HIMARS multiple rocket launcher.

The counteroffensive appears to have been successful in both parts of the country. In the past few days Ukraine has been able to report significant gains, particularly in the region south-east of Kharkiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj announced his first major success story on September 8. Since the beginning of September, Ukrainian troops have recaptured more than 1000 square kilometers of territory from the Russian invaders. On the same day, he confirmed the conquest of the town of Balakliya, about 50 kilometers northwest of the city of Izyum.

Ukrainian Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov said that Ukrainian troops advanced to 50 kilometers behind Russian lines and recaptured more than 20 villages in the Kharkov region.

However, 1,000 square kilometers is only a small amount relative to the total area occupied by Russia: At the beginning of June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj said that Russia occupied about 125 thousand square kilometers of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula. This is about a fifth of the territory of Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops gain more territory: The army says it has captured the village of Volokhiv Yar in Kharkiv and has announced its intention to advance towards the strategically important city of Kupyansk. This would cut off the Russians from important supply routes.

The head of the military administration of the Kharkiv region, established by Russia, Vitaly Gantchev, said that Ukrainian troops are also trying to break through the defenses of the town of Shevchenkove, about 20 kilometers away. Russian reserves were brought there, and the troops are “fighting now”.

But photos of Russian prisoners of war from the region are appearing more and more often. Observers believe Ukraine’s rapid advance has baffled scattered Russian power groups. Instead of experienced combat units, Russia had recently deployed poorly equipped guards in these areas. Most of the Russian supply in the last few weeks went south to the front.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense released footage of Russian military convoys heading for Kupyansk, Izyum and Kharkov to reinforce the front line.

In the past five days, Ukrainian forces have penetrated Russian lines to a depth of 70 kilometers in some places and have captured more than 3,000 square kilometers of territory, the institute reported. War Study (ISW) in situation analysis.

According to reports, Ukrainian troops captured the settlement of Velikiy Burluk in eastern Ukraine. Thus, they advanced as far as 15 kilometers from the Russian border.

According to Ukraine, it also recaptured the strategically important city of Kupjansk from the Russian army – the railway junction connected to the Russian railway network was used to supply the troops. Ukraine’s new pressure could severely limit Russia’s ability to provide material and logistical support to its positions on Ukraine’s eastern front. Russia has always been dependent on railway lines.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the withdrawal of its troops from the region. The withdrawal was presented as a “regrouping” of forces: the troops were to withdraw from the area to reinforce the troops further south in the Donetsk region.

On the 200th day of the Russian war of aggression, clashes continued around the strategically important cities of Kupyansk and Izyum. According to Ukrainian sources, after the partial withdrawal of its own troops, Russia opened fire on the neighboring country’s critical infrastructure. In some areas there were places without electricity.

According to its own statements, the Ukrainian armed forces continue the counter-offensive.

Under the impression of the missing, there are also voices in Moscow after talks with Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia did not reject the negotiations. In other news, former president and current vice-chairman of the National Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called for Ukraine’s unconditional surrender on Monday.

At the same time, Ukraine continues to demand tanks and weapons from the West to maintain the pressure on Russian troops. After meeting with his counterpart Annalena Baerbock (The Greens) in Kiev, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba underlined the urgent need for German Leopard 2 tanks.