Russian forces have withdrawn from key towns in the east as a swift Ukrainian counterattack makes further gains, reports the BBC.
Ukrainian officials said their troops entered Kupyansk, a vital supply hub for Russian forces, on Saturday (September 10).
Moscow for its part announced on Saturday that Russian troops had withdrawn from two key cities, Izium and Balaklyia, for the “gather” around Donetsk. “In order to achieve the declared objectives of the special military operation for the liberation of Donbass, it was decided to consolidate the Russian forces stationed near Balaklyia and Izium to strengthen the efforts in the direction of Donetsk”said Igor Konashenkov, the spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defense, quoted by the agency TASS.
“Russia’s admission of a withdrawal from Izium is significant because it was an important military center for Moscow”comment the BBC.
A possible “turning point” in the war
“Ukrainian advances – if they hold – would be the biggest since Russia pulled out of areas around kyiv in April”notice the BBC.
The New York Times wants to be cautious, but evokes a possible “turning point” in the conflict. “Maintaining control of cities has sometimes proven precarious during the war”, warns the newspaper. Nevertheless, “the loss of Izium – a strategically important railway junction which Russian forces seized in the spring after a bloody battle lasting several weeks – could mark a turning point in the war, matched only by the humiliating defeat of Russia around the Ukrainian capital, kyiv, in the spring”.
In a video message on Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian forces had recaptured some 2,000 km2 of territory since the launch of this counter-offensive at the beginning of the month.
“This claim suggests that half of this area has been reclaimed in the last forty-eight hours alone, double the amount of territory that Mr. Zelensky said he had been liberated during his speech on Thursday evening”notice the BBC. “These advancescontinues the British channel, will be seen as a sign that the Ukrainian military has the capability to retake territories occupied by Russia, which is crucial as kyiv continues to seek military support from its Western allies.”