President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces have secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops entered Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region earlier this month.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian forces have secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops entered the northeastern Kharkiv region earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Meanwhile, two people were killed Saturday in an aerial attack on the city of Kharkiv, which is the region’s capital, according to local officials.

Kharkiv is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian border. Moscow’s troops have in recent weeks captured villages in the area as part of a broad push, and analysts say they may be trying to get within artillery range of the city. Ukrainian authorities have evacuated more than 11,000 people from the region since the start of the offensive on May 10.

“Our soldiers have now managed to take combat control of the border area where the Russian occupiers entered,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Friday evening.

Zelenskyy’s comments appeared to be at odds with those made by Russian officials.

    • subignition
      21•5 months ago

      Early contender for the “Dumbest Lemmy Comment of 2024” award. Congratulations.

      • @aeronmelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
        -10•5 months ago

        Uh… this is not even the most hated on thing I’ve said this week. And it’s Sunday for me.

        I just assumed a bunch of bots were dunking on me for making fun of Russia losing territory it had just captured.

        If this is really one of the dumbest things you’ve seen on Lemmy this year, consider yourself lucky.

        • subignition
          13•5 months ago

          Your comment read to me as a sarcastic tone making fun of Ukraine for celebrating recapturing the territory.

          And it goes without saying that the opposing force of the conflict would not need to be informed of the happenings… So, there you have at least a small fraction of the reasoning

          • @aeronmelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
            -5•5 months ago

            The (loosely translated) quote is from Sun Tzu’s Art of War. That’s the whole point - of course the opposing force doesn’t care what territory you have declared secure. It infers that the only way to “inform” the enemy is to defend it with your life.

            Yeah, Sun Tzu was indeed sarcastic.

            Regardless how you feel about the quote or me, at least you used your words. That’s better than most.

            • subignition
              4•5 months ago

              I’ll have to rescind my nomination for dumbest. Unfortunately there is no substitute award, because now that I have a better understanding I think you will have much, much further to go to earn “most pretentious” :P