Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy yesterday said his forces were “strengthening” their positions in Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv has been mounting a major ground offensive.
His comments came a day after Russian officials accused Ukraine of destroying a key bridge across the Seym River, which cuts through the border region, as Kyiv seeks to disrupt the movement of Moscow’s troops in the area.
Ukranian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky “reported on the strengthening of the positions of our forces in the Kursk region and the expansion of stabilized territory,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.
Photo: Reuters
“As of this morning, we have replenished the exchange fund for our country,” he said, referring to Russian soldiers Ukraine has captured to be used in prisoner swaps.
“I thank all the soldiers and commanders who are taking Russian soldiers prisoner and thus bringing the release of our soldiers and civilians held by Russia closer,” Zelenskiy said.
On Friday, Syrsky said that Ukrainian troops had advanced 1km to 3km into Russian territory.
Photo: AP
He said earlier this week that Ukraine controlled more than 1,000km2 inside Russia, but Moscow disputes the claim and it cannot be independently verified.
Ukraine’s army launched its surprise offensive into Russia on Tuesday last week, claiming to capture several dozen villages in the biggest cross-border attack on Russian soil since World War II.
However, Russia yesterday said it had repelled Ukrainian forces near the town of Korenevo and the villages of Russkoye and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye in the Kursk region.
Zelenskiy separately said the situation on the eastern front near the towns of Pokrovsk and Toretsk was “under control,” after Russia said that it had made a string of advances toward them in the past few weeks.
There were “dozens of Russian assaults on our positions over the last day, but our soldiers and units are doing everything to destroy the occupier and repel the attacks,” Zelenskiy said.
Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike sparked a blaze in the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Two people were injured in the strike, which also damaged cars and nearby buildings, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service said.
It said that the hit had involved an Iskander-K cruise missile and an aerial bomb.
The Ukrainian Air Force also said it had shot down 14 Russian drones overnight, including over the Kyiv region.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS