Ukraine war: Kyiv claims success as southern fighting intensifies

Ukraine's subject says it has had occurrence connected 1 of the beforehand lines successful southeast Ukraine, arsenic Western officials speech of a large thrust taking place.

In a video published by President Zelensky, Ukrainian troops said they had taken the colony of Staromaiorske.

The village, 150km (90 miles) eastbound of the metropolis of Zaporizhzhia, was liberated nether dense artillery occurrence and aerial strikes, said the army.

Ukraine has not confirmed that it has beefed up its counter-offensive.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine's attacks had "significantly" intensified.

He told reporters successful St Petersburg they had had nary success: "All counter-offensive attempts were stopped, and the force was pushed backmost with precocious casualties."

Russian-backed militia person Aleksandr Khodakovsky contradicted Mr Putin, saying Ukraine had methodically shelled Staromaiorske for respective days and made gains, holding connected to the outskirts and pushing on.

President Zelensky posted video of troops holding up a Ukrainian emblem successful the colony and Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said they were present "continuing to wide the settlement".

Russian subject blogger WarGonzo said the quality was disturbing arsenic Staromaiorske was a cardinal Russian outpost connected the beforehand enactment successful the south-eastern portion of Zaporizhzhia.

Russia's warfare bloggers are considered an alternate root of accusation from the beforehand enactment successful the lack of authoritative accounts.

Ukraine's counter-offensive began connected a fig of fronts past period but has seen precise fewer wide gains truthful far. Kyiv's generals person warned that accelerated results are astir intolerable due to the fact that of Russia's fortified antiaircraft lines and rows of minefields.

The antheral successful complaint of operations successful the south, Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, has told the BBC that "any defence tin beryllium breached but you request patience, clip and skilful action".

Although determination has truthful acold been nary connection from Kyiv, unnamed US defence officials person told American outlets that a caller propulsion has begun successful the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War said an "intense frontal assault" had been launched towards Robotyne, to the south-east of Zaporzhhia metropolis and immoderate 10km (6 miles) southbound of the municipality of Orikhiv.

WarGonzo said Ukrainian forces were bombarding Russian forces connected the bluish and eastbound outskirts of Robotyne, though that was not confirmed by Kyiv. The Russian defence ministry said Ukrainian attacks determination had been repelled.

Ukrainian commentators person warned that speech of a caller signifier successful the counter-offensive is premature. Military adept Oleksandr Kovalenko said Ukrainian forces were getting person to breaking done Russia's antiaircraft lines successful the southbound but it mightiness beryllium excessively aboriginal to suggest they had afloat done so.

Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has spoken of a "gradual advance" successful Ukraine's propulsion towards the 2 cities of Melitopol and Berdyansk. Any beforehand towards either metropolis would people a decisive measurement successful the subject campaign.

If Ukraine's forces are capable to marque further advancement successful Robotyne, the adjacent colony to the southbound is Tokmak, connected the roadworthy to Melitopol.

One country wherever Ukraine has said it is advancing is southbound of Bakhmut, the eastbound metropolis captured by Russian forces aft a agelong and ferocious conflict that reduced it to ruins.

Ms Maliar said Ukrainian forces were gradually moving guardant and warring was taking spot successful 3 villages connected the beforehand enactment straight southbound of the city. "The warring is beauteous harsh. Enemy occurrence is intense," she said.

In a abstracted development, Ukraine's parliament has voted to widen martial instrumentality for different 90 days, barring men of warring property from leaving the country.

Martial instrumentality was imposed erstwhile Russia launched its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022. The ballot besides means parliamentary elections owed successful October volition beryllium delayed.