2023-07-02 19:57:47
Ukraine’s president traveled to Odessa on Sunday to celebrate the Ukrainian Navy and thank the soldiers defending the Black Sea port city.
Every first Sunday of July, Ukraine celebrates the founding of the country’s military naval forces. On this occasion, Volodymy Zelensky traveled to Odessa where he distributed medals and thanked the soldiers for their role in defending the Black Sea port city.
“You defended Odessa, which the Russian invaders dreamed of conquering or destroying, did he declare. A Russian flagship was sunk by our missiles, and it was so humiliating for the Kremlin that they are still afraid to make all the details of the loss public.”
The Ukrainian president took the opportunity to speak with the commander of the naval armed forces and visited a military hospital where wounded soldiers are treated. Medals of recognition were given to them.
Russian advances to the east
Ukraine also admitted on Sunday that Russian forces were advancing in four areas of the eastern front line where “hard fights”but assured that his troops were advancing in the south, regarding a month following the launch of their counter-offensive.
“The enemy is advancing in the sectors of Avdiivka, Mariinka, Lyman”Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar wrote on Telegram. “He is also advancing in the Svatovoe sector.”
“The situation is quite difficult”she continued. “There is fierce fighting everywhere.”
Sixteen months following the start of the Russian invasion, Ukraine says it is continuing its counter-offensive launched regarding a month ago and which has so far failed to trigger a decisive advance, and urges its Western allies to hasten the promised military aid, in the run-up to a NATO summit in Vilnius.
These latest developments on the frontline come following another nighttime airborne explosive drone attack on Kyiv, the first in 12 days, according to Ukrainian officials.
“All enemy targets in the airspace around Kyiv have been detected and destroyed”said Sergiy Popko, the head of the military administration of the capital.
The Ukrainian Air Force, in a separate statement, said it had shot down eight Iranian-made Sahed explosive drones, and three cruise missiles.
The Deputy Defense Minister added on Sunday that Ukrainian troops were advancing for their part with “a partial success” on the southern flank of the city of Bakhmout in the east, as well as near Berdyansk and Melitopol in the southern area of the front.
In the south, she said Ukrainian forces were encountering a “intense enemy resistance” as well as minefields, and only advanced “gradually”.
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