Russia-Ukraine war: Ukrainian forces launch counter-offensive in southern territory

Ukraine has been gearing up for a major counter-offensive as the war moves into its seventh month. Ukrainian forces have launched their counter-attack in the southern territory amidst continued Russian shelling.

The Ukrainian military said Monday that its forces launched a major counter-offensive to retake the southern territory that was seized by Russian forces. Bolstered with weapons and military aid provided by the west, the counter-offensive followed after weeks of what was seen as a stalemate.

Moscow acknowledged that a counter-offensive was launched but said it did not succeed and Ukrainian troops suffered casualties.

The heavy fighting concentrated on the southern and eastern territories which are occupied by Russians and pro-Russian separatists. The two areas have been under heavy bombardment and air strikes.

The spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern command Natalia Humeniuk said Ukrainian forces launched its counter-offensive in several directions in the southern territory, including Kherson which is north of the Russian-annexed Crimea.

Ukrainian forces have also made gains by targeting Russian ammunition depots and supply lines with west-provided weapons.

During a briefing, Humeniuk said Ukraine struck more than 10 sites in the past week, and that they “unquestionably weakened the enemy.”

Amidst the counter-attack in Kherson, Russian shelling bombarded residential areas of Mykolaiv, killing two people and devastating homes. According to Reuters, the strike hit a family home which is next to a school, and one woman was killed.

Mykolaiv mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said at least two people were killed and homes and schools were destroyed. Governor Vitaly Kim said 24 people were wounded from the shelling.

Some of the fighting has also taken place in the area surrounding the nuclear facility in Zaporizhzhia in recent weeks, with Moscow and Kyiv trading accusations of striking the area. The White House said Monday that Russia must agree to turn the nuclear facility into a demilitarized zone.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the Biden administration backs a visit by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency to the nuclear plant. Kirby added that the safest option would be to carry out a controlled shutdown.