A source in the Ukrainian defense told CNN that Ukrainian forces have taken back four villages that have been occupied by Russia. The cities are located near Kherson, but this has not been confirmed by independent sources. Russia, for its part, claims that Ukraine has not succeeded in advancing in the regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv, writes AFP. They believe that Ukrainian forces have suffered “heavy losses”. Ukrainian counter-attack Several international media, including the AFP news agency, reported earlier on Monday that the Ukrainian authorities had begun a counter-attack against Russian forces in the south of the country. This has also been confirmed by the Ukrainian authorities. The offensive is particularly aimed at the city of Kherson, the only regional capital Russian forces have succeeded in capturing in Ukraine. The city was the first to be taken by Russian forces after the invasion in February. – The goal is to liberate occupied areas, Natalia Humenyuk, spokeswoman for Ukraine’s southern command, told CNN on Monday morning. COUNTER-OFFENSIVE: Ukrainian forces launched a major counter-offensive against Russian forces in the south of the country on Monday. Advises Russian soldiers to flee Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a speech on Monday evening that Ukrainian soldiers will chase the Russian forces all the way to the border. He went on to say that Russian soldiers should flee for their lives from the Ukrainian counterattack. – If they want to survive, then Russian soldiers should flee. Go home, said Zelensky. He also said that Russian soldiers who surrender will be treated as prisoners of war should be treated according to the Geneva Convention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address to the people late Monday evening. Photo: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER / Reuters Announced in July It has been reported for several weeks that Ukrainian forces have prepared a counter-offensive in the south. There have been reports of, among other things, systematic attacks against bridges and ammunition depots. Serheij Khlan sits on the regional council in Kherson. He tells Ukrainian Pryamyi TV that this is the beginning of an operation aimed at recapturing occupied areas, according to AFP. – Today there was a powerful artillery attack on enemy positions throughout the occupied Kherson region, he says. – This is an announcement we have been waiting for since spring. It is the beginning of the counter-offensive of the Kherson region, says Khlan. SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY: Before the war, approximately 300,000 people lived in Kherson. This photo is from 20 May this year. Kherson is located just north of the Crimean peninsula, in the south of the country. Photo: OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP Expectations of a Ukrainian offensive have grown slowly but surely since the beginning of July. Then Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the liberation of the occupied territories in the south. – If conflicting messages come in Lieutenant Colonel Palle Ydstebø is head of the section for land forces at the Norwegian Military Academy. He says it is very difficult to know what direction this will take. – This can stop tonight or end up lasting a long time, says Ydstebø to news. When asked about what will happen in Ukraine next, lieutenant colonel Palle Ydstebø answers with great reservations. – It is hard to say. Conflicting messages come in and it is not good to establish what is true and what is not. MAJOR RESERVATIONS: Lieutenant-Colonel Palle Ydstebø has major reservations about what will happen in Ukraine during the day. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB What Ydstebø can say with certainty is that there is a lot of activity along the front in southern Ukraine. It is also reported from both sides. – And it is Ukraine that has started the activity. And it has been long overdue, says the lieutenant colonel. At the same time, there is one thing he does not doubt: – No matter what kind of offensive Ukraine runs, they will do it in a way where they avoid major losses themselves. I think you will see several smaller attacks, rather than a major offensive at first. Fighting in several places On Monday evening, there were also reports from the strategically important city of Mykolayiv about several incidents. The city is under Ukrainian control. Several bridges along the Dnieper River in the south of Ukraine are said to have been hit by missiles. At least two people have lost their lives and 11 people have been injured after the city is said to have been hit by Russian missiles, according to Sky News. Mayor of the city, Oleksandr Senkevych, himself announced the attacks on Telegram. There he urged residents of the city to seek refuge. Oleksandr Shulga looks at the remains of his destroyed house after a rocket attack in Mykolaiv on August 29. Photo: DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP According to the Russian news agency Tass, the statements by the Ukrainian authorities that they have launched an offensive are false. The Russian defense forces claim on Monday that they have defeated Ukrainian offensives in the south of the country, in the region of Kherson. AFP writes. Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the military-civilian administration in Kherson, says the following to Tass: – More and more residents of Kherson want to become part of Russia and to be a Russian region. Kherson is located just north of the Crimean peninsula, in the south of the country and on the river Dnieper, which divides the country in two. The city is therefore considered strategically important. Before the war, approximately 300,000 inhabitants lived in the city. Now it is no longer allowed to use Ukrainian currency – it is Russian rubles that apply, writes Aftenposten.
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Ukraine claims they have taken back several villages – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
