Armed Forces of Ukraine liberate over 300 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast – Deputy Minister of Defence
IRYNA BALACHUK – TUESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2022, 16:02
The Ukrainian army has liberated over 300 settlements [3,800 square km of land] in Kharkiv Oblast within just a few days of the beginning of the large-scale counteroffensive.
Source: Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, on air during the 24/7 national newscast on 13 September
Quote from Maliar: "The operation to liberate Kharkiv Oblast has lasted for several days, as planned. Between 6 September and today [September 13 - ed.], 3,800 square kilometres and over 300 settlements have been liberated. More than 150,000 Ukrainians have been freed from the occupation, where they were actually held hostages".
Details: According to Maliar, the counteroffensive is going as planned, and will continue until the entire territory of Kharkiv Oblast is free.
She refused to give details, but urged citizens to believe that "it would happen as soon as possible."
Later, she confirmed on Facebook that the figures, namely, 300 settlements and 3,800 square kilometres, are "confirmed numbers that take stabilisation measures into account", whilst "the actual area of liberated territories in Kharkiv Oblast is almost twice as big".
Maliar promised to provide these data concerning Kharkiv Oblast on 14 September.
Background:
- The Armed Forces of Ukraine began their counteroffensive in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine in early September.
- On 8 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the city of Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast had been liberated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- On 10 September, the Russian army was forced to withdraw from the city of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast, which had been occupied since 2 April. The invaders fled, leaving their military equipment behind.
- On 12 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had already liberated over 6,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian land from the Russian army in various areas.
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