Ukraine launches counter-offensive to recapture Russian-held areas in southeast

Ukrainian troops pressed on with their campaign to recapture Russian-held areas in the southeast on Sunday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in broadcast comments that his country’s forces had “taken the initiative” after an earlier slowdown.

Russian accounts said heavy fighting gripped areas outside the eastern city of Bakhmut, captured by Russian mercenary Wagner forces in May after months of battles. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said one of his units was deployed in the area.

 The Akhmat special forces unit commanded by Apty Alaudinov, Deputy Commander of the 2nd Army Corps, has been redeployed to the Bakhmut area, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Sunday.

"The command of the special operation has redeployed the Akhmat special forces unit commanded by Apty Alaudinov to the difficult Bakhmut area. This decision speaks about the General Staff’s confidence and proves the unit’s high combat capability," he wrote on his Telegram channel.