The Ukrainian president says his army has liberated around 8,000 square km of territory so far this month, a swath of land nearly equivalent to the island of Cyprus. Russia announced its withdrawal from key towns but it was not possible to confirm those figures.
WESTERN COUNTRIES STILL CAUTIOUS
Ukraine’s sudden advances over the past week have cheered its supporters in the West, although leaders say it is too soon to know whether Kyiv can keep up the pace.
“It’s clear the Ukrainians have made significant progress. But I think it’s going to be a long haul,” US President Joe Biden said.
A day after speaking by phone for 90 minutes to Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the Russian president “unfortunately” still did not think his invasion was a mistake.
German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht told Reuters it was too early to tell whether Ukraine’s “remarkable success” marks a turning point because Moscow has yet to react.
Russian forces still control about a fifth of Ukraine in the south and east, but Kyiv is now on the offensive in both areas.
The White House, which has provided billions of dollars of weapons and support to Ukraine, has said the United States is likely to announce a new military aid package in the “coming days”.
DEVASTATION
On the road into Izium, bus stops were daubed with “Z” markings, the symbol Russian forces use to identify themselves, and the charred remains of tanks and armoured personnel carriers lay by the roadside.
With a pink hood wrapped around her face for warmth, Liubov Sinna, 74, said residents were still fearful.
“We waited a long time for our guys. Of course we feel positive. Joy. But there is also fear – fear that the Russians could return here,” she said.
“Because we lived through this whole six months. We sat it out in cellars. We went through everything it is possible to go through. We absolutely cannot say that we feel safe.”
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