Ukraine’s Armed Forces continue counteroffensive in Donetsk direction – Zaluzhnyi

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley have discussed the needs of Ukraine’s Defense Forces to continue the fight against the enemy.

Zaluzhnyi wrote on Telegram that during his phone conversation with Milley, he told about changes in the operational and strategic situation in Ukraine.

He noted that heavy battles are ongoing on the border of Svatove-Kreminna, as well as in the direction of Lysychansk.

“The most difficult situation remains in the Soledar-Bakhmut-Mayorsk section. There, the enemy is  trying to move forward actually over its corpses, but Defense Forces units hold back the enemy offensive at the cost of extra efforts. In the Donetsk direction, we managed to hold positions around Avdiivka and continue counteroffensive operations. We reliably hold the defensive lines in the Zaporizhzhia direction and make efforts to protect Kherson from enemy shelling, primarily civilians and critical infrastructure facilities of the city. The situation on the border with the Republic of Belarus is fully controlled,” he said.

According to Zaluzhnyi, from December 31 to today’s morning, the enemy launched 14 cruise missiles and used 94 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones.

In addition, Zaluzhnyi thanked General Milley for the provided anti-aircraft missile systems that save the lives of Ukrainian civilians.

"We also discussed the needs of the Defense Forces to continue the fight against the aggressor. I highly appreciate General Milley's leadership in providing military aid to Ukraine. Mutual trust and a common vision help to increase the ability of the Ukrainian army to defend the peaceful cities and villages of our country, which is a guarantee of security in the whole of Europe," said Zaluzhnyi.

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