Ukraine: In a move reflecting Kyiv's growing confidence in the form of Western military aid, Ukraine on Monday announced the launch of the long-awaited counter-offensive, which has been the most since its invasion by Russian forces six months ago in the south. was captured.
The announcement was made as a team of the United Nations nuclear watchdog was heading to Ukraine to inspect the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, which has become a flashpoint in the conflict after it was taken over by the Russian military in March. But is still run by Ukrainian employees.
In response to concerns about a radiation disaster in a nation still troubled by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, Moscow and Kyiv have accused shelling near the nuclear plant, Europe's largest and close to the frontline.
"Today we launched an offensive in various directions, including in the Kherson region," Southern Command spokeswoman Natalia Lyubeyuk was quoted as saying by Ukrainian public broadcaster Saspilne.
In contrast to its unsuccessful attempt to capture the capital Kyiv, Russia quickly captured areas south of Ukraine near the Black Sea coast, including the city of Kherson.
Ukraine is attacking Russian ammunition piles and disrupting supply lines with high-tech weapons supplied by the West.
At a briefing on Monday, Humenyuk said Ukraine had destroyed more than 10 ammunition storage facilities in the past week, adding that these attacks "undoubtedly weakened the enemy."
Russian forces in southern Ukraine are still "quite powerful", it said, refusing to provide further details about the retaliation.
Sergei Aksyonov, the governor of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, dismissed his announcement as "another sham of Ukrainian propaganda". Kherson is not far from Crimea.
According to Vladimir Leontiev, a local official cited by the Russian news agency RIA, people were being evacuated from their places of employment in Nova Kahokva, a town 58 kilometers (36 mi) east of Kherson, after more launches by Ukrainian forces. Had been. There 10 missile strikes.
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