he air, leaving trails of smoke and destruction in their wake.
Neskuchne and Storozheve, once peaceful villages, now lie in ruins. Buildings are reduced to rubble, and the streets are littered with debris. The scars of war are evident everywhere, a stark reminder of the violence that has engulfed this region.
But amidst the destruction, there is a sense of determination among the Ukrainian soldiers. They are fighting to reclaim their land, to push back the Russian forces that have occupied their territory for far too long. And they are making progress.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive, though not meeting initial expectations, is slowly gaining ground. Ukrainian officials have stressed the need for patience, emphasizing that this is not a quick and easy battle. It is a long and arduous fight, one that requires strategic planning and careful execution.
In the south, Ukrainian forces have achieved partial success in two areas of the front. They are entrenching themselves in the achieved frontiers, preparing for further advances. In the east, they have successfully halted Russia’s advance towards the cities of Kupyansk and Lyman.
But the road to victory is not without its challenges. Russia continues to strengthen its forces along the front, sending airborne assault units to the south and east. They have been pushing reserves and attempting to break through Ukrainian defenses. The fighting has been fierce, with both sides suffering losses.
In the midst of this ongoing conflict, innocent civilians are paying the price. Russian attacks on cities like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia have claimed the lives of innocent people. The shelling of Kherson’s municipal transport company resulted in the death of a 55-year-old man and the injury of several others. In Zaporizhzhia, at least two people were killed and numerous civilian structures were destroyed or damaged.
The situation is further complicated by the impending expiration of the Black Sea grain deal between Ukraine and Russia. A Ukrainian diplomat believes that Russia is “99.9%” likely to quit the deal, citing the re-election of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s search for alternative ways to export fertilizers. The potential suspension of the deal could have adverse effects on global food security, as Ukraine is one of the world’s leading grain exporters.
As the conflict rages on, it is important to remember the human cost of war. Innocent lives are being lost, homes are being destroyed, and communities are being torn apart. The international community must continue to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and sovereignty. Only through collective efforts can we hope to bring an end to this devastating conflict and restore peace to the region.e no civilians left here,” one soldier tells CNN. “They all fled when the Russians came.”
The villages of Neskuchne and Storozheve, located in the Donetsk region, were recently liberated by Ukrainian forces as part of their ongoing counteroffensive against Russian occupation. However, the scenes in these villages tell a story of destruction and devastation.
Houses lie in ruins, with walls collapsed and roofs caved in. The streets are littered with debris and remnants of the conflict. The soldiers, who now occupy these villages, take shelter in the damaged houses, using them as temporary hideouts.
The soldiers are busy preparing for further attacks. They clean and prepare American-made mortar rounds, scribbling messages on them for their enemy. They rely on drones to keep an eye on the enemy lines across the fields.
But amidst the sounds of incoming and outgoing shelling, the soldiers acknowledge that there are no civilians left in these villages. They all fled when the Russians arrived.
The counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces is a response to Russian aggression and occupation. Ukrainian officials have stressed that the operation will take time and have called for patience. President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned against viewing the conflict through the lens of a Hollywood movie.
As the fighting continues, the toll on both sides is evident. Lives are lost, homes are destroyed, and the hope for peace remains distant. The villages of Neskuchne and Storozheve serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of war.Ukraine says “main strike” in counteroffensive to come, warns against “premature” assessments
Ukraine’s “main strike” in its counteroffensive is still ahead and some reserves continue to be held back from the fight, a senior Ukrainian defense official told state television on Friday.
“We still have major events ahead, and the main strike is still ahead,” deputy minister of defense Hanna Maliar said. “Indeed, some of the reserves will be deployed later.”
“Every day we make progress. Every day. Yes, it’s gradual, but our troops are gaining a foothold on these lines and they are advancing confidently,” Maliar said.
Russia, meanwhile, is strengthening its forces along the front, “sending airborne assault units to the south and east” and Russian reserves – recently relocated to the east – had so far been unsuccessful as they “tried to break through” Ukrainian lines, Maliar said.
“While our defense forces are carrying out offensive actions in the south, the enemy has strengthened in the east and they have moved reserves there … They have been pushing reserves and tried to break through our defense there,” Maliar said. “Over the past week and a half, we have had very fierce fighting in the Kupyansk and Lyman areas, but our armed forces have stopped the enemy.”
Maliar claimed that this “large-scale” Russian offensive led to “huge” enemy losses and had “now stopped.”
Expectation management: Ukrainian officials stressed this week that their counteroffensive – which Western officials have told CNN is “not meeting expectations” – will take time, with the prime minister calling for patience and President Volodymyr Zelensky warning allies not to see it through the lens of a “Hollywood movie.”
Maliar said offensive operations were “going according to plan,” adding it’s “premature to make assessments now.”
“We should not expect that the offensive is something very fast, that we started at 1 o’clock, finished at 2 o’clock, and have liberated some region(s) while all the people had lunch. It will not work like that,” she said.
Russia has mined the southern front, she said, which “definitely slows down the pace.”
Russian attack on Kherson city leaves 2 dead, authorities say
Two men have been killed after Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the regional governor said on Friday.
“In Kherson city, the occupation forces attacked a municipal transport company with precision fire. They hit civilian workers who ensure the life of the city. Unfortunately, a 55-year-old man died on the scene. Five more of his colleagues were wounded and hospitalized,” governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram.
In a later Telegram post, Prokudin said another 43-year-old man had died in a medical facility of his injuries despite doctors trying to save his life.
Kherson: For eight months last year, residents of Kherson lived under brutal occupation, with reports of people being tortured and disappearing. But in November, Ukrainian forces swept into the sitting, driving Russian troops out to the east and liberating the city. Jubilant crowds filled the city’s Freedom Square with blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, shouting “Slava Ukrayini” – glory to Ukraine.
The retreat represented a major blow for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort in Ukraine. At the time, Kherson was the only Ukrainian regional capital that Russia’s forces had captured since the start of the invasion.
But the city has since come under intense Russian bombardment. Over the course of two days in February, the city endured more than 130 strikes by rockets, artillery, mortars and even direct tank fire across the Dnipro River from Russian forces.
Since the start of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, officials in Kyiv have repeatedly warned that, while their forces attempt to drive Russian invaders from territories they have occupied, Moscow’s troops have launched offensives of their own – with Friday’s shelling of Kherson just the latest.
Ukraine claims “partial success” in south, while holding back Russian offensive in east
The Ukrainian military claimed on Friday to have had “success in two areas of the southern front.”
“In the directions of Novodanylivka – Robotyne and Mala Tokmachka – Novofedorivka, they have achieved partial success and are entrenching themselves in the achieved frontiers,” Andriy Kovalov, a spokesman for the General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces, said in a statement.
The Ukrainians continue to conduct offensive operations in the direction of the southern occupied city of Melitopol and the port of Berdiansk, the statement added.
In the east, Ukrainian troops have halted Russia’s advance toward the cities of Kupyansk and Lyman, deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram post on Friday.
“In the Kupyansk and Lyman directions, our defense forces stopped the enemy’s advance,” Maliar said.
Pleas for patience: This week, Ukrainian officials have stressed that their counteroffensive – which Western officials have told CNN is “not meeting expectations” – will take time, with the prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, calling for patience and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warning allies not to see it through the lens of a “Hollywood movie.”
Russia “99.9%” likely to quit grain deal, Ukrainian diplomat believes
Russia is “99.9%” likely to quit the Black Sea grain deal when it expires in mid-July, a Ukrainian
How has the Russian attack on Kherson impacted innocent civilians and the overall human cost of the war?
N February, Russian forces launched an attack on Kherson, targeting a municipal transport company and causing the deaths of two innocent civilians. The attack also resulted in the injury of several others. This brutal assault serves as a reminder of the human cost of war and the impact it has on innocent people caught in the crossfire.
Furthermore, the potential expiration of the Black Sea grain deal between Ukraine and Russia adds another layer of complexity to the conflict. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading grain exporters, and the potential suspension of this deal could have adverse effects on global food security. It is crucial that the international community continues to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and sovereignty.
Despite the challenges and devastation, Ukrainian soldiers remain determined to reclaim their land from Russian occupation. They continue to make progress in their counteroffensive, slowly gaining ground and pushing back Russian forces. However, this is not a quick and easy battle as it requires strategic planning and careful execution.
The Ukrainian soldiers have achieved partial success in the south, entrenching themselves in the achieved frontiers and preparing for further advances. In the east, they have successfully halted Russia’s advance towards the cities of Kupyansk and Lyman. However, Russia’s continued strengthening of its forces and attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses pose ongoing challenges.
The villages of Neskuchne and Storozheve, once peaceful communities, now lie in ruins. The scars of war are evident everywhere, serving as a stark reminder of the violence that has engulfed this region. The toll on innocent lives, the destruction of homes, and the tearing apart of communities emphasize the urgent need for a resolution and the restoration of peace.
The conflict in Ukraine is far from over, and it is essential that we do not lose sight of the human cost. Innocent lives are being lost, and communities are being shattered. The international community must continue to support Ukraine in its fight and work towards a peaceful resolution. Only through
The Ukrainian counteroffensive gaining momentum is a promising development, but caution against premature assessments is wise. It’s crucial to maintain focus and evaluate the situation on the ground as the main strike approaches.