Zelenskyy Visits City Retaken by Ukrainian Forces Amid Counteroffensive
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials raised the Ukrainian flag over the newly-recaptured city of Izyum on Wednesday.
Izyum served as a key base for Russia's efforts to capture the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, but is now back in Ukrainian hands amid a counteroffensive that's gaining momentum. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces withdrew from Izyum as part of a "tactical" regroup.
Zelenskyy said earlier this week that between counteroffensives in eastern and southern Ukraine, his military has taken back a total of roughly 2,300 square miles of land. Upon raising the flag over Izyum Wednesday, Zelenskyy said that "Our blue and yellow flag is already flying in de-occupied Izyum. And it will be so in every Ukrainian city and village."
Izyum's liberation and Zelenskyy's visit were covered by sources across the political spectrum. Many framed the retaken city as evidence that Ukraine's counteroffensive is gaining steam and that Russia's efforts to take over the country are stalling. Some also highlighted pessimistic comments from Russian officials about the state of their invasion.
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