Ukraine advancing in Kharkiv region but fighting still raging, deputy defense minister says

Record ID: 1688668

  • Title: Ukraine advancing in Kharkiv region but fighting still raging, deputy defense minister says
  • Date: 13th September 2022
  • Summary: KHARKIV REGION, UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 13, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER, HANNA MALYAR, SAYING: “The aim is to completely liberate Kharkiv region and other territories occupied by the Russian Federation. Right now, there is still fighting in Kharkiv region. The cities Ukrainian forces have entered are still going through stabilization measures. This means working against saboteur groups, providing safety measures. It is still early to say full control has been established over the region, but the process is ongoing.” WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER, HANNA MALYAR, SAYING: “The aim of this defensive operation was to dissect enemy forces and move forward. This was accomplished. Due to this success a decision has been made to continue the operation. The difference between Ukrainian and Russian armies is obvious: the latter tries to make use of superiority in weapons and manpower, while the Ukrainian army relies on intellectual planning skills. Our strength lies in motivation and thorough operation planning.” WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (Russian)DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER, HANNA MALYAR, SAYING: “We plan to liberate all occupied territories as of 2014. Ukraine has to control all its internationally recognized borders.”
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2022 09:46
  • Keywords: Russian invasion counteroffensive defeat deoccupation retreat war in Ukraine
  • Location: KHARKIV REGION, UKRAINE
  • City: KHARKIV REGION, UKRAINE
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA001493113092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Fighting is still raging in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region but Ukraine's forces are making good progress because its forces are highly motivated and its operation is well planned, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar told Reuters on Tuesday (September 13).
    "The aim is to completely liberate Kharkiv region and other territories occupied by the Russian Federation. Right now, there is still fighting in Kharkiv region," Malyar said in an interview.
    "Our strength lies in motivation and thorough operation planning," she said, adding that Ukraine had taken the decision to press on with its operation in the Kharkiv region due to the successes notched up so far.
    Malyar was speaking on the road to Balakliia, a crucial military supply hub recaptured by Ukrainian forces late last week during a counter-offensive that forced Russian troops to flee further east. Balakliia is 74 km (46 miles) southeast of Kharkiv, the regional capital and Ukraine's second largest city.
    Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said overnight that Ukraine had now recaptured roughly 6,000 square km (2,400 square miles) of territory but he called on the West to speed up deliveries of weapons systems.
    Russia, which still controls around a fifth of the country following its invasion on Feb. 24, has responded to Kyiv's battlefield successes by shelling power stations and other key infrastructure, causing blackouts in Kharkiv and elsewhere.
    (Production: Tom Balmforth, Margaryta Chornokondratenko, Andrii Pryimachenko)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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