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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Mark Townsend, Lorenzo Tondo, and Isobel Koshiw

Ukrainian counter-offensive in north-east inflicts a defeat on Moscow

Russian army vehicles in the Kharkiv region after the breakthrough of Ukrainian troops in Kupiansk.
Russian army vehicles move into the Kharkiv region after the apparent breakthrough of Ukrainian troops in Kupiansk. Photograph: Russian Defence Ministry/EPA

Ukraine’s lightning counter-offensive in the north-east of the country has inflicted an extraordinary defeat on Moscow, prompting the Russian army to pull back thousands of troops after suffering a series of battlefield defeats.

In a day of momentous developments, Ukrainian forces confirmed the liberation of the crucial rail hub of Kupiansk and shortly after seized Izium, the major base for Moscow’s forces in the Kharkiv region.

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