Russian Defense Ministry reported today, Saturday, that "Ukrainian forces continued their unsuccessful attempts over the past twenty-four hours to launch attacks in the southern Donetsk region and in the Zaporizhzhia area, in addition to an assault in the area of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine." Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that "the counteroffensive and defensive operations are ongoing in Ukraine," noting that he would not disclose the current stage of these operations.
In a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky stated: "Ukrainian forces have begun their long-discussed counteroffensive." He mentioned senior military leaders in Ukraine by name and added with a smile, "They are all optimistic; they sent that to Putin."
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry shared a video on their official Twitter account showing one of the destroyed German "Leopard" tanks during the repulsion of Ukrainian forces in the Zaporizhzhia front.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated yesterday, Friday, that "Ukrainian forces have begun their anticipated counteroffensive amidst intense fighting in Ukraine, but all their attempts to advance have failed, resulting in a huge number of casualties and injuries."
