Ukraine regaining territory

Stuff reports:

In the end, the Russians fled any way they could on Friday (local time), on stolen bicycles, disguised as locals, abandoned by their units.

Hours after Ukrainian soldiers poured into the area, hundreds of Russian soldiers encamped in this village were gone, leaving behind stunned residents to face the ruins of 28 weeks of occupation. …

The hasty flight of Russians from the village was part of a stunning new reality that took the world by surprise over the weekend: The invaders of February are on the run in some parts of Ukraine they seized early in the conflict.

On Saturday, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed that Russian forces had retreated from the Balakliia and Izyum area in the Kharkiv region, saying a decision was taken to “regroup.”

On Sunday, Ukraine’s commander in chief, Valery Zaluzhny, said Ukrainian forces had retaken more than 3000 square kilometres of territory, a claim that could not be independently verified, adding that they were advancing from the east, south and north.

“Ukrainian forces have penetrated Russian lines to a depth of up to 70 kilometres in some places,” reported the Institute for the Study of War, which closely tracks the conflict. They have captured more territory in the past five days “than Russian forces have captured in all their operations since April,” its campaign assessment posted Sunday said.

That is an astonishing reversal, and great to see.

Ironically it may prolong the conflict, as Putin can no longer declare a ceasefire when he is looking weak. But it will weaken his position back home.

The bravery and tenacity of the Ukrainian defenders is stunning.