Ukraine's president has claimed that his forces have retaken control of 40 villages and towns in the country's south. The claim was made after Russia announced the withdrawal of its forces from the strategically important Ukrainian city of Kherson.
According to the news agency AFP, in his daily address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, "Today we have good news from the south." The defense operation to return the Ukrainian flags to their original place has already been successful in dozens of places.
President Zelensky announced that 41 regions had been "liberated" from Russia.
According to Reuters news agency, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Wednesday that Russian forces would withdraw from the western bank of the Dnipro River near Kherson in what could be a turning point in the war.
The city of Kherson is the only regional capital to be captured by Russia after the invasion and has been the focus of Ukraine's counteroffensive.
The city controls the only land route to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Meanwhile, the United States has announced a $400 million security aid package for Ukraine, which includes defense systems and surface-to-surface missiles.
In recent days, Russia has carried out massive airstrikes in Ukraine, targeting and destroying important buildings and bridges.
Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary of the US Department of Defense Pentagon, told reporters that additional air defense capability is essential for Ukraine after Russian airstrikes have targeted civilians and critical infrastructure.
The US defense package for Ukraine includes four short-range 'Mobile Avenger air defense systems' and Stinger missiles.
This anti-missile defense system is being supplied to Ukraine for the first time.
