Joy And Tears For Ukrainians As Troops Recapture Towns

Kyiv forces reach border as Putin is criticised in Russia

- David Harding Aisha Rimi

Ukraine forces continued to push forward and recapture invaded territory even reaching the border in one area officials said yesterday, as criticism of the war grew louder in Russia.

Blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags fluttered over newly liberated towns in the northeast of the country with Kyiv claiming its troops had freed more than 20 settlements in 24 hours. Russia acknowledged it was abandoning Izium, its main stronghold in the area.

As the seven-month-long war entered a seemingly critical phase, Russian forces responded by attacking power stations and other critical infrastructure in Kharkiv, plunging thousands of people in cities and towns into darkness.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow’s deliberate and cynical” targeting of civilians a charge always denied by Moscow was an act of terrorism.

“Do you still think you can intimidate, break us, force us to make concessions?” Mr Zelensky said. “Cold, hunger, darkness and thirst for us are not as scary and deadly as your ‘friendship’ and “brotherhood”

He added: “We will be with gas, lights, water and food, and without you!”

Thor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, accused Russia of shelling densely populated areas.

The impact of the rapid and dramatic advance by Ukrainian forces was also felt in Moscow, where there was rare criticism of the Russian military and political leaders, including President Vladimir Putin.

In recent days, Kyiv’s forces have captured territory at least twice the size of greater London, according to British defence officials. Ukrainian forces outnumbered Russians by eight to one in the counterattack, Moscow said.