Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Russian troops to flee an offensive launched by his forces near the southern city of Kherson, saying the Ukrainian army was retaking territory, although Russia said the ‘assault had failed.
The assault on Ukraine comes after weeks of stalemate in a war that has killed thousands, displaced millions, destroyed cities and sparked a global energy and food crisis amid unprecedented economic sanctions.
It has also fueled fears of a radiation disaster from bombing near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.
Zelensky, in his late-night speech on Monday afternoon, vowed that Ukrainian troops would pursue the Russian army “all the way to the border.”
“If they want to survive, it’s time for the Russian army to flee. Go home,” he said.
“Ukraine is getting its own back.”
Oleksiy Arestovych, a senior adviser to Zelensky, said Russian defenses had been “broken within hours”.