During the counter-offensive operation in Dobropilya, Ukrainian troops liberated over 174 sq. km of territory and eliminated nearly 3,200 Russian soldiers, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his evening video address, quoted by Ukrinform, DPA and BTA.
"We also spoke separately with the military about the operational situation, and the commander-in-chief presented his report. The counter-offensive operation in Dobropilya continues," Zelensky said.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to the participating units for their effectiveness.
"By the beginning of this day, our forces had liberated more than 174 square kilometers since the start of the operation, and more than 194 square kilometers had been cleared of Russian sabotage groups. Russian losses in this operation alone amounted to nearly 3,200, with the majority of them irretrievably lost," he added.
He reported that he had also received up-to-date information about the situation in Kupyansk, in the border areas of Kharkiv region, and in the areas on the border between Donetsk and Dnepropetrovsk regions.
"The situation there is difficult, but it is important that Ukrainian soldiers - our units - are doing everything necessary to defend their positions," Zelensky stressed. He also praised the servicemen who recently shot down a Russian military helicopter with a drone. "This achievement has inspired many Ukrainians," he assured, thanking in particular the crew of the unmanned systems battalion of the 59th separate assault brigade.
In addition, Zelensky stressed the importance of Ukrainian drone and missile manufacturers operating at full capacity, stressing that the country's production capabilities are far from being fully utilized.