The Ukrainian Southern Operations Command confirmed the implementation of counterattacks on the positions of Russian forces in the southern provinces of Kherson, Zaporizhia and Mykolaiv, and that it is working to destroy its reinforcements and supply lines, especially from the Crimea.

This comes at a time when the deputy head of the Ukrainian Regional Council in Kherson said that Moscow is sending additional reinforcements to its areas of control in the southern province, indicating that the Russians are restructuring their presence on the ground and digging trenches along the left bank of the Kherson region.

This coincides with the escalation of tension between Ukraine and its neighbor, Moscow's ally, Belarus, as TASS news agency quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying that the military maneuvers with Belarus aim to discourage Russia's opponents from military escalation.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that a Russian military committee led by the commander of the ground forces, Oleg Salyukov, visited Belarus, and inspected the joint forces there, days before the launch of the joint exercises between the two countries.

A spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command confirmed that most of the Russian ballistic missiles that targeted his country were launched from the territory of Belarus, indicating that the Ukrainian forces are strengthening their defense capabilities on the borders in anticipation of any developments, and warning against the deployment of Russian tactical weapons in Belarus.

The spokeswoman for the Southern Operations Command of the Ukrainian army, Natalia Hominyuk, also questioned the reality of the maneuvers that Russian and Belarusian forces will conduct near the borders with her country, stressing - in an interview with Al-Jazeera - that the Ukrainian army is ready to defend any potential aggression that could come from Belarus.


Solidar battles

On the other hand, ambiguity still surrounds the fate of the battles taking place in the city of Solidar in eastern Ukraine, despite the assertion of the private Russian Wagner Group that its fighters have resolved the battles on the ground.

Kyiv denies this claim, stressing that its soldiers are still engaged in fierce fighting there, and accuses Moscow of sending thousands of Russians to death in the hope of achieving a strategic initiative in the city.

In this regard, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the cities of Solidar and Bakhmut are the first issue, and that the battle there is for Donetsk, noting that the Ukrainian fighters in Solidar hold on to their positions and inflict heavy losses on the enemy, as he put it.

The advisor to the Ukrainian presidency, Mikhail Podolyak, also confirmed that the cities are under the control of the Ukrainian forces, and said that breaking the Russians in this battle would constitute a major turning point.

The pro-Russian Donetsk forces have already confirmed that pockets of resistance still exist in Solidar, while the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the continuation of what it called the "successful" military operations of its forces in the Donetsk axis.

Russian media and military journalists published pictures of the destruction of the vehicles and strength of the 61st Ukrainian Brigade outside Solidar on Thursday evening.

According to these sources, the Russian artillery inflicted heavy losses on the 61st Brigade, which was sent to Solidar, as the human losses are estimated at about 300 dead among the Ukrainian forces.

Ban on tanks

On the other hand, an advisor to the Ukrainian presidency announced the lifting of the ban on exporting tanks to his country, indicating that the practical decision of Ukraine's partners is for it to fulfill all its tasks in this war.

He added, "We will receive these tanks and armored vehicles within two or three months. In the end, we will also receive long-range missiles, not to strike the Russian depth, but to strike ammunition depots in the occupied territories that are far from the fronts. This is what will impose the end of the war and the Ukrainian victory."


bombing and raids

In the rest of the field developments, the Ukrainian General Staff said that its air forces launched 16 raids on the positions of the Russian forces during the past hours, in addition to 5 raids on its anti-aircraft missile systems.

It added that its artillery forces also bombed 3 control points and 12 concentration areas for Russian manpower and military equipment, the S-300 missile system, and 3 Russian ammunition depots.

Its defenses also shot down a Russian SU-25 plane and a drone.

On the other hand, the General Staff indicated that, during the past day, the Russian forces launched 5 missile strikes on the cities of Zapaugia, Kostyantinivka and Kramatorsk, in addition to 52 attacks by rocket launchers and 18 air raids on other sites.

It pointed out that its forces repelled, throughout Thursday, Russian attacks on more than one front and axis.