The Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun: seven settlements have been liberated in the last week.

The Armed Forces liberated seven settlements in the Donetsk region, namely Lobkove, Levadne, Makarivka, Neskuchne, Blagodatne, Storozheve, and Novodarivka, reported Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar. Ukrainian troops advanced from 300 to 1,500 meters in different directions and by 1,400 meters near Bakhmut and liberated 90 sq. km in total during the last week.

At the same time, Russian officials call the Ukrainian advances insignificant, characterizing them as simply the capture of “gray zones” to downplay Ukrainian achievements.

The head of the British Parliament’s Defense Committee, Tobias Ellwood, suggested that in the next few days, Ukraine’s Armed Forces will launch a major attack in the Donbas. He added that Ukrainians are currently conducting probing and formation operations and preparing for a big push but a quick victory should not be expected. On the contrary, he anticipates a long struggle and called on Ukraine’s allies to give the Defense Forces more tanks, Western fighter jets, and long-range missiles.