Moscow abandoned two major areas in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region Saturday after Ukrainian forces choked out a major supply point for Russian troops.
“In order to achieve the declared goals of the special military operation for the liberation of Donbas, it was decided to regroup the Russian forces stationed near Balakleya and Izyum to boost efforts in the Donetsk direction,” Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov told TASS. Language used in Russia’s statement resembles claims made earlier this year in the wake of its failure to take Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv, Fox News said. (RELATED: Russia Plans On Buying Millions Of Artillery Shells From North Korea: REPORT)
The retreat of Russian forces from the area marks a major success for Ukraine, as Ukrainian forces are believed to have retaken the town of Kupiansk, the AP reported. A recapture of the northern town effectively cuts off the supply line to Russian forces, according to the AP.
Ukrainian troops are advancing in eastern Ukraine, liberating more cities and villages. Their courage coupled with Western military support brings astonishing results. It’s crucial to keep sending arms to Ukraine. Defeating Russia on the battlefield means winning peace in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Mkr18soUmb
— Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) September 10, 2022
British officials further suggested Saturday that troops around Izyum are “increasingly isolated” and “were likely taken by surprise.” If Ukraine is successful in cutting off Russian ground lines of communication around Izyum, then conditions may be set for “collapse” of a “major portion” of Russian strongholds in northeast Ukraine, an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War states.
1️⃣9️⃣9️⃣ days of full-scale #Russia’s war on #Ukraine.
Information on #Russian invasion.
Losses of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, September 10. pic.twitter.com/dT1Fb0Z7j8— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) September 10, 2022
As part of its recent counteroffensive, Kyiv has so far seized 2500 square kilometers of territory in the country’s Kharkiv region, according to estimates from the Institute for the Study of War. “We are gradually taking control over more settlements, returning the Ukrainian flag and protection for our people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.