Russia on Thursday said it had thwarted Ukrainian military operations, while Ukraine claimed to have repelled multiple Russian attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that over the past 24 hours, Russian forces had launched offensives in the directions of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
In Krasnoarmeysk, known as Pokrovsk in Ukraine, Russian troops thwarted a dozen of attempts by encircled Ukrainian soldiers to break out. Russian forces also repelled three Ukrainian attempts to break the siege in Kupyansk.
Russia took control of two villages in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
On Thursday, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky said Ukrainian forces are concentrating efforts to strengthen defenses, supply, and logistical support in Pokrovsk and have repelled several Russian attacks in the area.
In addition, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported Ukraine conducted strikes using drones and domestically produced missiles, targeting Russian fuel depots, air defense radar stations, frontline command posts, and other high-value targets.
Also on Thursday, when commenting on Ukraine's announcement of the end of peace talks with Russia this year, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine will sooner or later be forced to return to negotiations, but "from a much worse position".
On Friday, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the city's air defense are "in action", as Russia launched massive attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Several explosions were heard and an air raid siren blared on Friday morning in Kiev.
Russia claims to thwart Ukrainian operations, Ukraine says expelling Russian offensives
