Ukraine on Monday claimed that it had driven Russian forces out of an eighth village in its two-week-old counteroffensive while a defence official vowed that Kyiv's "biggest blow is yet to come" despite tough resistance from Russian troops. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian forces had retaken Piatykhatky, a settlement on a heavily fortified part of the front line near the most direct route to the country's Azov Sea coast, as per a Reuters report.
The capture was a part of advance by Kyiv of upto seven kilometres into Russian lines in two weeks, capturing 113 square kilometres of land, as per the report.
On messaging app, Telegram, Maliar said the "enemy will not easily give up their positions and we must prepare ourselves for a tough duel." The military "are moving as they should have been moving. And the biggest blow is yet to come."
The fiercest fighting was in the east and south of Ukraine, she said. Separately, she said Ukraine's military was preventing a Russian advance in the east where it concentrated its units, including air assault troops.
In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv's military was moving forward in some sectors and defending against intensified attacks in others. But the net outcome was favourable for Ukraine, he said.
"We have no lost positions, only liberated ones. And they have only losses," he said.
Two slick videos released on Telegram by the Ukrainian armed forces showed what they said were attacks and advances by their forces in recapturing the village of Piatykhatky, including several strikes on Russian positions and a convoy. The video shows thick smoke rising from the area. Columns of Ukrainian armoured vehicles are seen advancing down a country road.
The video concluded with soldiers of the 128th separate assault brigade standing in front of a colonnaded building with Ukrainian flags and saying they have liberated the village.