Kyiv says its troops have entered the key city of Izium as Russian forces flee from a rapid counteroffensive.
Russian forces were forced to flee the strategic eastern city just five days after Ukrainian forces began a new offensive eastward through the Kharkiv region."Russians escaped and left weapons and ammo behind. City center is free," a spokesperson for the Bohun Brigade of the Land Forces of Ukraine said in a statement Saturday afternoon.The last five days have seen the most ambitious ground assaults by the Ukrainians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in late February.
Several videos of Ukrainian troops standing at the Izium sign at the entrance to the city were posted on Telegram. One piece of footage was purportedly filmed by a reconnaissance unit of Ukraine's 25th Paratroopers' Brigade. Over the video, a voice is heard saying:"We are in Izium. Everything will be Ukraine. Our flag is here already."Kyiv said its forces have also severed a major Russian supply line through the Kharkiv region and were moving further east.
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