Zelensky says Ukrainian army recaptured 2,000 sq km of territory from Russia in lightning advance

Ukraine's president spoke in a video address on Saturday evening as the country's troops entered and reportedly liberated the key strategic city of Izium

President Zelensky claims that 2,000 km2 of Ukrainian territory has been liberated since the start of a counter-offensive earlier this month (

Image: SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Ukrainian troops have retaken about 2,000 km² (700 square miles) of territory since launching a counteroffensive against Russia earlier this month, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Ukraine's military advances quickly on one of the main points of war. front lines.

The Ukrainian head of state conveyed the news to his people in a video address today.

This comes as Kyiv confirmed that its troops entered the key Ukrainian strategic city of Izyum and began clearing it.

Videos of troops entering the city circle on Telegram and the Russian Defense Ministry described the retreat as a "regrouping".

They said: "In order to achieve the objectives of the special military operation...it was decided to consolidate the Russian troops stationed in Balakliya and Izyum to intensify the efforts in the direction of Donetsk."

“A three-day operation was carried out to reduce and redeploy troops from Izyum-Balakliya to the DPR…a number of distractions were carried out with the designation of the actual actions of the troops.”