Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine aims to liberate all Russian-occupied territories following gains

Ukrainian forces are aiming to recapture all territories that were seized by Russia following the successes of its ongoing counter-offensive. This renewed push to liberate all occupied territories also comes as the United States is expected to announce a new package of military assistance for Ukraine.

Ukraine has now aimed to recapture all of its territories that were occupied by Russian forces following its invasion back in February. The push to liberate its territories follows the major gains its forces made in its ongoing counterattack in Russian-held territories in northeastern Ukraine.

During his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were able to recapture around 8,000 square kilometers in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were carrying out “stabilization measures” in half of the recaptured territory, and the measures are still being done in the remaining liberated areas.

Ukraine’s recapturing of most of Kharkiv also follows the retreating of Russian forces in the area, a major blow to Moscow since the early days of the war nearly seven months ago. Ukrainian forces have been recapturing dozens of settlements in its counterattack.

At the same time, Washington is expected to announce a new military assistance package for Ukraine in the “coming days.” A US spokesperson said that Russian forces left their defensive positions, especially in and around Kharkiv.

Russian forces still occupy one-fifth of southern and eastern Ukraine, but Ukrainian forces are on the offensive in both regions.

Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Malyar said around 150,000 people were liberated from Russian rule in Balakliia, a key supply hub that was taken by Ukrainian forces last week.

With the gains Ukrainian forces have made so far, a group of Russian politicians in St. Petersburg is facing possible dissolution after they called for Vladimir Putin to be removed in a ruling made by a judge Tuesday.

Deputy Nikita Yuferev said the judge ruled that a series of previous meetings by the council are deemed invalid, clearing the way for the group to be broken up by the regional governor.

Council member Dmitry Palyuga also said the same court fined him $780 for “discrediting” authorities by calling for Putin to be removed.