Ukrainian shelling a few days ago towards positions of Russian forces in the east of the country (French)

Ukraine has regained control of strategic positions from Russian forces on the southern bank of the Dnipro River, amid ongoing heavy fighting, while the warring parties revealed a new toll for their captives.

Ukraine's naval command said on Friday on Facebook that Ukraine's defense forces had "carried out a series of successful operations on the left bank of the Dnipro River" in Ukraine's southern Khersun region.

It said the Ukrainian navy had been able to "cooperate with other units of the defence forces, to gain a foothold on several bridgeheads" in the area, citing "heavy losses" in the Russian ranks.

"Ukrainian units succeeded in expelling the Russians from their positions on the left bank of the river," the General Staff said, noting that there is a "long line of fortifications and strong resistance to the enemy" and that "sabotage and reconnaissance operations continue."

According to the commission, the aim of these operations is to "push the enemy as far as possible" from the river, to prevent it from bombing the city of Kherson and other towns on the right bank controlled by Kiev forces.

The Ukrainian army had earlier announced that it had succeeded in consolidating several positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River, announcing that it was "taking measures to expand its concentration."

First success

According to observers, this is the first success announced by the Ukrainians in their counteroffensive since they took control last August of the village of Robotina in the southern region of Zaporizhia.

Kiev had hoped that its control of his robot would allow it to penetrate Russian lines and liberate the occupied territories, but the Ukrainian army was unable to do so in the face of the firepower of Russian defenses.

After days of silence, the Russian military confirmed on Friday that it had inflicted heavy losses on troops trying to land on the bank it occupies, without mentioning Ukrainian beachheads.

On Wednesday, Vladimir Saldo, governor of the occupied part of the Kherson region, acknowledged that tens or hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers had managed to establish positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River, especially around the village of Krynky.


Prisoner Tolls

The Ministry of Reintegration of the Ukrainian Occupied Territories said Russia was currently holding more than 3500,<> Ukrainian soldiers as prisoners of war.

According to dpa news agency, it has been confirmed that more than 4300,760 Ukrainian prisoners of war are being held in Russia, including more than <> civilians.

In contrast, Moscow said more than 500 Russian soldiers were being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.

It was reported in early November that Kiev was preparing a second prison for Russian prisoners of war in the western part of the country.

Source: Agencies