The Ukrainian army has captured “2000 kilometers of territory”, the Russian army is on the run

The Ukrainian army recaptured “2,000 kilometers of territory” in September, Ukraine’s president announced Saturday, assuring the Russian army was making the “right choice” by fleeing in the face of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the northeast and south. of the country.

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“Currently, since the beginning of September, almost 2,000 km of territory has been liberated,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video posted on Telegram.

He did not specify whether it was km or not².

On Thursday, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Valery Zaluzny, announced that his troops had moved 1,000 km.² occupied its territory in the past.

“In recent days, the Russian army has been showing us what it’s best at: behind it. After all, it’s a good option for them to run away,” he said.

“There is no place for occupiers in Ukraine and never will be,” he added.

In early September, the Ukrainian army first announced a counteroffensive in the south, before conducting a surprise and flash advance of Russian lines in the Kharkiv region in the northeast this week.

About 30 areas have been liberated, Mr. Zelensky said on Friday, but others were added to the list on Saturday as Ukrainian troops entered the city of Kupyansk, a key area held by the Russian military for months. .

Since the city lies on supply routes to other Russian positions on the frontline, its capture by Ukrainian forces would pose a serious problem for Moscow.

The recapture of another strategic city, Izium, also seemed imminent, as the Russian army announced it was withdrawing its forces to protect the separatist zone of Donetsk.

Moscow captured the city after weeks of fighting in the spring.