Russian troops reportedly retreated following a major Ukrainian’s counteroffensive that was secretly launched on September 1.
According to the reports, the Russian forces were caught by surprise after Ukrainian forces choked out a major supply point for Russian troops.
As a result, Moscow decided to abandon two major areas within Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
In a statement released by Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov during an interview with TASS, “in order to achieve the declared goals of the special military operation for the liberation of Donbas, it was decided to regroup the Russian forces stationed near Balakleya and Izyum to boost efforts in the Donetsk direction.”
1️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ days of full-scale #Russia’s war on #Ukraine.
Information on #Russian invasion.
Losses of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, September 10. pic.twitter.com/dT1Fb0Z7j8— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) September 10, 2022
According to Fox News, the language used in Russia’s statement “resembles claims made earlier this year in the wake of its failure to take Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv.”
Moreover, AP News also reported that Ukraine is believed to have successfully retaken the town of Kupyansk, cutting off the supply line to Russian forces.
“Ukrainian troops are advancing in eastern Ukraine, liberating more cities and villages. Their courage coupled with Western military support brings astonishing results. It’s crucial to keep sending arms to Ukraine. Defeating Russia on the battlefield means winning peace in Ukraine,” Oleg Nikolenko, a Ukrainian government official, said.
On Saturday, the Institute for the Study of War states released an assessment after British officials claimed that troops around Izyum are increasingly isolated” and were likely taken by surprise.”
“Ukraine is successful in cutting off Russian ground lines of communication around Izyum, then conditions may be set for collapse of a major portion of Russian strongholds in northeast Ukraine,” the assessment added.
Furthermore, the estimates from the Institute for the Study of War revealed that as part of its recent counteroffensive, “Kyiv has so far seized 2500 square kilometers of territory in the country’s Kharkiv region.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also released a statement on Friday, declaring that “We are gradually taking control over more settlements, returning the Ukrainian flag and protection for our people.”
Last Saturday, a Ukraine government organization posted an update on Twitter, declaring that “199 days of full-scale Russia’s war on Ukraine. Information on Russian invasion. Losses of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, September 10.”
