President Zelensky has confirmed that the counteroffensive has begun, but that much more is coming. For the moment, Ukrainian forces are fighting on four fronts – Bilohorivka (Luhansk Region), Bakhmut (Donetsk Region), Velyka Novosilka (Zaporizhia/Donetsk Region), and towards Tokmak (Zaporizhia Region). Their best success so far has been against Bakhmut advancing another 4600 feet (1400 m). Ukrainian forces have advanced south of Velyka Novosilka liberating the towns of Neskuchne and Storozheve. On the Bilohorivka front, Ukrainian forces have advanced southeast of Rozdolivka. Ukrainian forces had lost much equipment attempting to advance towards Tokmak over the last three days, but on the fourth day they liberated Lobkove and Robotyne, and advanced towards Novopokrovka.
Russia has been creating havoc in the counteroffensive with their advanced jamming capabilities making it difficult for Ukrainian troops to communicate together or use GPS systems. But the western weapons supplied to Ukraine have advanced night optics systems which gives Ukrainian forces a big advantage at night. Ukraine was able to destroy two thermobaric artillery systems which Russia is dependent upon for their defense. Russia did target an airfield in the Poltava region damaging buildings and equipment.
Water is gradually receding in flooded areas of Ukraine after Russia blew up the Kakhovka Dam unleashing a torrent of water towards Kherson. Thirty-five settlements remain flooded with 3763 houses under water. 2588 people have been rescued from the flood waters and evacuated. Russia continues to fire upon civilians trying to evacuate from the flooded regions. On the Russian side, they are preventing civilians who do not possess Russian passports from being rescued.
Russia launched eight Iranian drones and two missiles on Odesa region, but all were intercepted. Unfortunately, debris from one of the drones hit a residential building setting it on fire. Three people were killed and 26 injured.
The Kyiv Regional Council on Friday called on Ukraine’s Parliament to draft a law banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) on the territory of Kyiv region. The council accused the UOC-MP, which is under the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church, of being a fifth column in support of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. On Wednesday, Ukraine Culture and Information Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko had given the UOC-MP until this weekend to vacate the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Monastery.