Ukraine on Thursday launched its highly anticipated counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces, sources familiar confirmed to Fox News.
Ukrainian fighters are making a large push to expel Russian invaders in the city of Zaporizhzhia, in the country’s southeast. Additionally, there are ongoing battles north of the eastern city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian forces have retaken approximately 1.4 km of territory.
“In the direction of Bakhmut, our troops switched from defense to offensive,” Ukranian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a post on Telegram. “Over the past day, we have advanced from 200 to 1,100 meters in various sections of the Bakhmut direction.”
Multiple news outlets reported Thursday that Ukraine had begun its operation to reclaim territory seized by Russia in the past year of a war instigated by President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainians are fighting with Western arms and equipment, including $46.8 billion in training, weapons and military grants and loans from the U.S.