Zelenskyy says ‘counteroffensive, defensive actions’ taking place in Ukraine

47

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Ukraine was actively engaged in counteroffensive and defensive actions against Russian forces. Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a news conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy expressed confidence in the mindset of his top commanders and their troops, who were involved in intense fighting along the front line.

In response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement that Ukraine’s counteroffensive had begun and significant losses were being incurred by Ukrainian forces, Zelenskyy acknowledged that counteroffensive and defensive actions were indeed taking place, without disclosing specific details about the stage or phase of the operations.

Zelenskyy reassured the public that he maintained daily communication with commanders responsible for various directions, mentioning the names of five of Ukraine’s top military leaders. He emphasized their positive outlook and urged Trudeau to convey this message to Putin.

During Trudeau’s visit, Canada pledged substantial support to Ukraine, including $500 million in new military aid and an additional $10 million for humanitarian assistance in response to the devastating floods caused by a breach in a dam along the Dnieper River. Trudeau attributed the dam’s collapse to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, although he refrained from directly blaming Moscow.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported ongoing heavy battles with 34 clashes in the industrial east over the previous day. While no specific details were provided, it was mentioned that Russian forces were defending themselves and launching air and artillery strikes in Ukraine’s southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Amidst the conflict, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, had already shut down five out of its six reactors and entered a state of cold shutdown. The shutdown was attributed to both the breach of the Kakhovka dam and shelling near the site, which damaged the power lines connecting the plant to Ukraine’s energy system. Despite the shutdown, Energoatom employees continued working at the plant, which remained under Russian control.

In separate incidents, Ukrainian authorities reported the deaths of at least four civilians due to attacks by Russian forces using Iranian-made Shahed drones, missiles, and artillery strikes. The State Emergency Service stated that three individuals were killed and over two dozen were wounded in an attack on the Black Sea port of Odesa, including two children and a pregnant woman. In the Kharkiv region, a 29-year-old man was killed, and three other civilians were wounded in a drone attack. Damage was also reported at a military airfield in the Poltava region following a Russian drone and missile attack.

The Ukrainian air force claimed to have successfully shot down a significant number of Shahed drones and missiles launched by Russian forces during the night. Meanwhile, concerns grew about declining water levels caused by the breached dam, with protected natural areas and the Dnieper delta at risk of flooding. Authorities estimated that around 700,000 people were in urgent need of drinking water, and meteorologists predicted heavy rainfall in the affected areas, further complicating rescue efforts.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his intention to continue dialogue with Putin, emphasizing the withdrawal of Russian troops as a crucial step toward achieving a fair peace between Russia and Ukraine.

[Note: The original text contains various specific details, such as names, locations, and casualties. Due to the potential sensitivity of this information, I have omitted those specific details in the rewritten text.]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ukraine-Russia conflict

More about Ukraine-Russia conflict

• AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine
• [Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Ukraine](insert link here)
• [Ukraine’s General Staff reports on ongoing battles](insert link here)
• [Information about the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant](insert link here)
• [Reports on floods and civilian casualties in Ukraine](insert link here)