On October 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces had made some progress in the counter-offensive campaign in the southern Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.
In his overnight video address, Mr. Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainian units are continuing to counterattack near Dobropillia, Donetsk province as well as in other areas, especially near Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia province.
According to Mr. Zelensky, the Ukrainian army has advanced an additional 3km at the Zaporizhzhia front.
Ukraine's 24th independent attack Battalion posted on Telegram that it coordinated with another unit to take control of the Mali Shcherbaky village, located between Orikhiv and the Dnipro River.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry's same-day report did not mention the situation of Mali Shcherbaky village but said that the army of this country had attacked Ukrainian soldiers and equipment in many areas of Zaporizhzhia, including Novoandriivka village, near Mali Shcherbakhiv and Orikhiv.
Over the past week, Ukraine and Russia have issued conflicting statements about the situation along the more than 1,250km route.
On October 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin told senior officers that Russian forces have taken control of 5,000 square kilometres of territory this year and continue to maintain a strategic advantage along the entire route.
Just a day later, Zelensky said the Ukrainian army was causing heavy damage to Russian forces near Dobropillia and continuing to defend in all other directions.
