Ukrainian forces break through Russian lines, recapture villages in major advance in south

Ukrainian troops on Monday recaptured villages along the west bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine in a major new breakthrough, opening a second big front that is forcing Moscow to abandon ground just days after claiming to annex it.

Ukrainian forces have made some breakthroughs in the southern Kherson region and taken control of some settlements, a Russian-installed official said.

Russian military sources also acknowledged the advance. Defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in his daily briefing that “with superior tank units in the direction of Zolotaya Balka, Aleksandrovka, the enemy managed to penetrate into the depths of our defense”.