2 weeks ago
Ukraine retakes 745 sq km in 'precision' operation, Zelenskiy says
Ukraine and Russia are fighting a big war.
This year, Ukraine's soldiers have taken back a large piece of land that Russian forces were holding.
The land is about 745 square kilometers, which is bigger than many big cities.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, says the operation went exactly as planned.
Ukraine freed 26 towns and villages in three regions of the country.
But a map from a group that tracks the war shows much of that land is still in a 'grey zone' that nobody fully controls.
Some of the land is even marked as still controlled by Russia.
Reporters could not check the videos Ukraine posted of its flag being raised.
Russia's own advances have slowed this year across much of the front.
Russia still wants Ukraine to give up more of the Donetsk region, but Ukraine says no.
Ukraine has recaptured 745 sq km (288 sq miles) of Russian-occupied land this year along the southeastern front.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the operation as a 'precision' offensive that went 'exactly as planned.'
Ukraine says 26 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, along a roughly 60-km stretch of the front, are back under Kyiv's control.
The DeepState map shows much of the area remains in a grey zone not fully controlled by either side, and Reuters could not independently verify the video of freed settlements.
Russia's advances have slowed this year across much of the front, but Moscow still demands Kyiv cede the rest of the industrialized Donetsk region, which Kyiv refuses.
- Who
- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Ukraine's military, including air-assault forces and other units, alongside Russian forces on the opposing side.
- What
- Ukraine liberated 745 sq km of Russian-occupied land and 26 settlements in a 'precision' offensive operation.
- Where
- Along an approximately 60-km stretch of the southeastern front where the borders of the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions meet, part of the 1,200-km front.
- When
- Zelenskiy announced the results on Wednesday in a post on X; the Reuters report is dated Aug. 12 and covers territory retaken this year.
- Why
- Ukraine is seeking to heap pressure on Moscow's war effort by counterattacking and striking Russian logistics and energy infrastructure.
Kyiv's Account
Independent Assessment
Territorial control
Kyiv's Account
Zelenskiy says 745 sq km were liberated in a 'precision' operation that went 'exactly as planned.'
Independent Assessment
DeepState's map shows much of the area remains in a grey zone not fully controlled by either side, some marked as still Russian-controlled, and Reuters could not verify Ukraine's video evidence.
Donetsk region
Kyiv's Account
Ukraine refuses to give up the rest of the industrialized Donetsk region.
Independent Assessment
Moscow has demanded that Kyiv surrender the rest of the Donetsk region.
Key facts
- Territory retaken
- 745 sq km (288 sq miles)
- Settlements liberated
- 26, in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions
- Front segment
- Approximately 60 km stretch where the three regions' borders meet
- Overall front length
- 1,200 km
- Announced by
- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a post on X
- Verification status
- Reuters could not independently verify Ukrainian footage; DeepState map shows much of the area as a grey zone
- Russian demand
- Moscow demands Kyiv give up the rest of the industrialized Donetsk region; Kyiv refuses
Quotes
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
President of Ukraine
“"This offensive operation of ours was carried out with precision – exactly as planned,"”
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