Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed there will be no end to the fighting to regain territory lost to Russia as Kyiv said its forces had advanced to the east bank of the Oskil River, threatening Russian occupying forces in the Donbass.

The Oskol crossing is another milestone in Ukraine’s counter-offensive in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, as it flows south to the Seversky Donets River, which flows directly through Lugansk, one of the two Donbas regions.

Ukrainian troops “passed Oskol”. As of yesterday, Ukraine controls the eastern coast,” the Ukrainian Armed Forces wrote on Telegram late Sunday evening.

Sergei Gaidai, Governor of Luhansk Oblast, wrote on Telegram: “Luhansk Oblast is very close. Liberation is not far off.”

Zelenskiy vowed to keep putting pressure on Moscow after Ukraine’s meteoric advances in Kharkiv this month.

“Perhaps some of you think that after a series of victories we are now in some kind of lull,” he said in his regular Sunday evening address. “But there will be no peace. Preparations are underway for the next series of moves … Because Ukraine must be free, whole.”

US President Joe Biden also said that a Ukrainian victory means the withdrawal of Russian troops from all over the country, and promised US support as long as necessary.

“Victory in the war in Ukraine means the complete withdrawal of Russia from Ukraine and the recognition of sovereignty. Defeat Russia,” he said in an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes on Sunday.

“Russia turns out to be not as capable and capable as many thought.”

Counterattack in the south

Ukraine’s Southern Command said on Monday morning that it had hit a radar station near Kherson and a sea crossing near Novaya Kakhovka east of Kherson, where the Ukrainian counteroffensive had focused on destroying bridges on the Dnieper and Onihulets rivers.

On Sunday, Russian artillery shelled towns and villages on the front lines to the east and south, including civilian infrastructure in the city of Zaporozhye, according to Ukrainian officials.

The UK said Russian forces have stepped up strikes against civilian infrastructure after setbacks on the battlefield and are likely to further expand their targets.

“Faced with setbacks on the front lines, Russia has likely expanded the areas it is prepared to strike in an attempt to directly undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and government,” the British Defense Ministry warned.

Source: Reuters.