General Valerii Zaluzhnyi says forces have seized ‘strategic initiative’; Russian president poses for selfies in Dagestan
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The death toll in a Russian missile strike on a restaurant in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk has risen to 12, after another body was pulled from the rubble early on Thursday, Ukrainian emergency services have said.
Three children were among the dead, it said in a tweet, and 60 people were injured, including one child. Earlier reports had said four children were among the dead.
Ukrainian commander-in-chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi told chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley that the that his forces had “succeeded in seizing the strategic initiative.”
“Ukraine‘s defence forces are proceeding with their offensive action and we have made advances. The enemy is offering strong resistance, while sustaining considerable losses,” Zaluzhnyi wrote on Telegram.
“Every day, there is an advance,” Maliar said. “Yes, the advances are slow, but they are sure.”
She cited the recapture this week of the village of Rivnopol in the southeast, saying “mopping up operations were complete” and that the army was now well dug in.
“It makes no sense to enter Bakhmut itself now. The risk is too great,” he told Ukrainian NV Radio “But in the east, Ukraine has gradually taken over the initiative. Ukraine has improved its tactical positions without sending in significant reserves.”
