On Thursday, the Ukrainian army announced major successes in its counteroffensive against Russian forces in the southeastern corner, a day after it announced the liberation of a village that had been a stronghold for Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Wednesday that his country is “significantly” intensifying the production of drones.

In his late-night video address, Zelensky emphasized the importance of drones in defending his country against a Russian invasion, saying, “Drones are eyes and protection on the front line… drones are a guarantee that people don’t have to give their lives. , when they can be used.” He also stressed the importance of providing drones by international partners.

“In every combat unit, warfighters are the first to ask about drones, electronic warfare and military air defense,” he said, referring to several front-line surveys he’s conducted in recent days.

The military said Ukrainian forces had advanced south of Orozhin, a village in Donetsk region that Kiev said it had recaptured on Wednesday, as it tried to build momentum for a push south into the occupied territory towards the Sea of ​​Azov.

“South of Uruzhin (Ukrainian forces) have achieved success,” military spokesman Andriy Kovalev said in comments broadcast on national television. He did not elaborate.

Orozhin is the first village Kiev has declared recaptured since July 27, underscoring the challenge Ukrainian forces face as they try to advance through heavily cut Russian defense lines without strong air support. The village is located 100 kilometers west of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk.

Kovalev, quoted by Reuters, said heavy fighting was taking place in the Kharkiv region in the country’s northeast and around a village in the far east of Baghmut. months. He continued, “The enemy launched unsuccessful offensive operations in the Senkivka region of Kharkiv region and Budanivka in Donetsk. There are fierce battles going on. He added, “In the direction of Pakmut, (Ukrainian) self-defense forces continue to carry out offensive operations south of Pakmut.”

A Ukrainian general said Wednesday that Russia was launching an attack on Kopiensk, a city in the Kharkiv region, but Kovalev said Ukraine would respond to that attack, as well as Russian attacks north of Baghmuth and near the city of Liman.

In a negative development from Kiev, Ukraine appears to have given up hope of acquiring US F-16 fighter jets this year, after months of pressing Western allies to provide the advanced aircraft to defend against a Russian invasion. “It is clear that Ukraine cannot be defended with F-16s in the coming autumn or winter,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television. He said that Ukraine will not be able to receive F-16 fighter jets from allies in the coming autumn or winter, so it is necessary to strengthen air defense now. Ihnat stressed that F-16 fighter jets should not be expected to arrive in Ukraine this coming fall or winter.

Ihnad said, “There are many hopes that these aircraft will become part of the air defense system and that they will protect us from Russian missile and drone attacks.” Ukrainian media quoted Ihnad as saying that one of the signs of progress was that Ukrainian pilots and technicians could start training on planes “in the near future.”

The Netherlands and Denmark, members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), provide an 11-nation joint training of Ukrainian pilots for Western fighter jets.

On the other hand, an intelligence assessment published by the British Ministry of Defense on developments in the war in Ukraine, today Thursday, says that despite the pressures of the current war, Ukrainian efforts to provide fuel reserves are likely to succeed. Ensuring adequate winter stocking.

The British Ministry of Defense, in its daily intelligence update published on the “X” site (formerly “Twitter”), said that Ukraine was effective in strengthening the mining sector to maintain production and ensure a continuous supply of coal for thermal power. Plants and heating in winter, large gas reserves provide additional reserves.

While Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector infrastructure will continue this winter, Ukraine demonstrated last winter that it has the skilled and experienced workforce to operate and maintain the power grid, even in a war situation. Russian forces repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure last winter, leaving thousands of homes without electricity or heat for days amid freezing temperatures.

The press office of the Russian Federal Security Service announced that agents of the agency in the Luhansk People’s Republic arrested a Ukrainian citizen who transferred data on the locations of military personnel and military equipment to the intelligence services of a foreign country.

The Russian Federal Security Service said in a statement that since October 2022, a Ukrainian citizen has been collecting data on military personnel and military equipment of the People’s Militia and the Russian Armed Forces in the Luhansk People’s Republic. It was also transferred to the intelligence services of a foreign country for use against them.” Defense of the Russian Federation, “reported by the Russian TASS news agency.”

“Investigators of the Federal Security Service charged him with an offense under Article 276 (espionage) of the Russian Criminal Code,” the statement added. The man is currently in custody and investigations are underway, the statement said.