Ukraine's armed forces have retaken more territory during counteroffensive than Russia gained in the winter offensive – British defense minister
During the liberation of the occupied territories, Ukraine liberated more territories than Russia captured during the winter offensive.
The Minister of Defense of Great Britain, Ben Wallace, stated this, as the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain reported on Twitter.
The head of the British Ministry of Defense emphasized that Ukraine managed to recapture about 300 square kilometers of its territory.
💬 "As part of their summer campaign to reclaim illegally occupied territory, Ukraine has already recaptured approximately 300 square-km. That's more territory than Russia seized in its whole winter offensive."
Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP updated Parliament today on Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/qsVIkF0scs
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 26, 2023
On June 23, the Ministry of Defense reported that the Ukrainian military continues actively conducting offensive operations.
On June 24, Hanna Maliar stated that the Defense Forces launched an offensive in several directions in the east and advanced everywhere.
In addition, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that progress after the start of the offensive by Ukraine's armed forces is slower "than we would like." Still, Ukraine will move forward "as it deems necessary."
In addition, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, General Mark Milley, said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive would be a difficult and brutal battle.
On June 26, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar reported that the Defense Forces of Ukraine took control of the village of Rivnopil of the Velykonovoseliv district in the Donetsk region.
For reference:
In general, during the past week, June 19-25, Ukrainian troops increased the area of liberated territories by 17 square kilometers. And in general, since the beginning of the counteroffensive, the freed area in the South is 130 square kilometers.
As the spokesman of the joint press center of the Defense Forces of the Tavria front, Valery Shershen, reported, Ukrainian soldiers were able to advance another 1.5 kilometers in the past day on the Melitopol front. This success is the result of systematic pressure on the Russian occupiers.
In addition, on June 26, the commander of the operational-strategic group of troops "Tavria," Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, reported that the Defense Forces are moving forward on the Tavria front, there are already liberated territories, and the Ukrainian army's movement continues. He said the Armed Forces performed 954 fire missions during the day.
The Defense Forces also cleared the bridgehead of the Russian occupiers on the western bank of the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal.
In addition, on June 24, it became known that near Krasnohorivka of the Donetsk region, Ukraine's armed forces managed to free several positions that had been under Russian occupation since 2014.