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Ukrainian soldiers on the roof of the central hospital in Kupyansk

JTFMax:

Is this the turning point in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine? The fact is: that Ukraine is taking back its country!

Putin's army has recently suffered considerable losses due to the significant Ukrainian offensive in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine. In the first three days of the offensive, the Ukrainians liberated more territory (about 2,500 square kilometers) than Russia has captured in the Donbass in the last four months.

On Saturday, the vital city of Isjum was added!

A disaster for the Russian army officially announced in the evening that it was withdrawing from there.

Officially, the Ministry of Defense spokesman in Moscow justified the withdrawal with a "regrouping" to strengthen the units in the adjacent Donetsk region.

 The truth is: They are fleeing! As in March, when Putin's army (with a similar justification) left northern Ukraine and the pocket around Kyiv.

There is a railway junction in Izyum where Russia needs to resupply its troops.

According to unconfirmed reports, there are even fights near the city of Donetsk, including at the airport.

The fact is that thousands of Russian soldiers have withdrawn from their positions in the past few days. More than 60 towns and villages have been retaken from their rightful owners – the elected Ukrainian government and its army.

Women in Balaklija celebrate their liberators with tears in their eyes.

Then today, the following setback for the Russian troops: This morning – after six months of Russian occupation – the Ukrainian army also recaptured the city of Kupjansk (around 28,000 inhabitants). This is also important for the Russian army due to its numerous rail connections.

A bitter loss for the Russian attackers! Because of its direct rail connection to Russia, the small town of Kupjansk is vital as a transport hub for supplying the entire Russian military unit around Izyum in the southwest (around 47,000 inhabitants).

The Ukrainian soldiers could outsmart the Russian troops with their own war strategy. While the Russian army is retreating in the direction of the Luhansk region, the Ukrainians are marching on. So what threatens is what Putin always wanted in the East but never managed to do himself: a *kettle.

*The city of Izyum was surrounded on all sides by the Ukrainian army. The Russian troops fled in a panic because they knew they didn't stand a chance - they left heavy war equipment behind.

Counter-offensive in the East unexpected for Russia

Putin apparently did not expect the Ukrainian army to advance so far east. The Kremlin ruler had sent more troops from the East to the south because of Ukraine's multiple public announcements that he was launching a southern counter-offensive.

Consequence: The Russian soldiers are now missing in the East to defend the occupied areas. Earlier in the week, up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers attacked a broad front, overrunning Russian positions and hitting them unexpectedly.

The city of Izyum is critical for Russia to attack the Donbass from the north. The towns of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, fought over there, would hardly be threatened if the Kremlin also lost Izyum to the Ukrainian armed forces.

People in the East celebrate liberation.

The people in the liberated places in eastern Ukraine celebrated the arrival of the Ukrainian soldiers with shouts of joy and tears in their eyes.

After six months of Russian occupation: Ukrainian soldiers are greeted by local residents in liberated Balakliya.

"We have been praying for half a year," said one woman in Balaklija, overjoyed with her Ukrainian liberators, and another said, "It's good that you're finally here."

And Putin? In revenge for its military defeat, the Russian army has resumed shelling civilian areas in Kharkiv.

Brutal and cowardly: Multiple rocket launchers are used against innocent men, women, and children. There are also reports that the Kremlin is now deporting the inhabitants of the occupied territories to Russia against their will.