Ukraine says retook over 16 sq km from Russia in east, south last week

Ukraine said Monday its forces over the past week had recaptured more than 16 square kilometres (six square miles) from Russian forces in the south and east of the country.

Kyiv last month began its highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian troops after stockpiling Western weapons and building up its offensive forces.

"During the week... the liberated area (in the south) increased by 12.6 square kilometres," Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said in televised remarks.


She added that Kyiv's forces had wrested another four square kilometres near the embattled city of Bakhmut in the east.

Malyar also said that Russian forces had "conducted assaults" in the Kupyansk area of the eastern Kharkiv region, "aiming to push our units beyond the Oskil river".