Ukraine has claimed its troops have advanced on three villages in the southeast, marking the ‘first results’ of its counter-offensive against Russia.

According to the British news agency Reuters, forces in Kiev have posted unverified videos showing soldiers hoisting a Ukrainian flag over a bombed-out building in the village of Blahodtne in the Donetsk region, and with their unit’s flag in the adjacent village of Neskuchne. is shown.

“We are seeing the first results of the countermeasures,” Valery Shirshin, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military sector, said on television.

Deputy Defense Minister Hina Miliar later said that Ukrainian forces had captured the village of Makaryuka in the south and had advanced between 300 and 1,500 meters in two directions on the southern front.

“No position has been lost where our forces are on the defensive,” Maliar added on Telegram.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that “Ukrainian soldiers are being pushed, they have suffered heavy casualties.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his troops in a late-night video address but made no reference to specific areas where fighting had been reported.

“Of course, I am grateful to our troops for this day,” he said.

Vladimir Zelensky indicated on Saturday that Kiev had launched its long-awaited counteroffensive to capture the east and south.

Kiev officials have remained tight-lipped and urged Ukrainians not to divulge any information that could compromise the operation.

The video of the demolition shows Ukrainian soldiers inside a destroyed building.

An unidentified soldier can be heard saying in a video posted on Facebook: ‘We are driving the enemy out of our homeland. Ukraine is going to win, Ukraine is above all else.’

Russia has claimed at least twice this week that it has repelled attacks near the nearby town of Velika Novoselka.