Zelenskyy hits back at Musk over tycoon’s ‘peace plan’; Ukraine ‘on track’ to achieve three key battlefield objectives | War latest

Ukraine has made its biggest breakthrough in the south of the country since the war began after beating down Russian defences. 

Ukrainian troops managed to recapture several villages in an advance along the Dnipro river, a Russian-installed leader in the area said. 

The town of Dudchany, which is around 30km (20 miles) south of where the front stood before, was also recaptured. 

This indicates the fastest advance of the war in the south so far. 

Russian forces there had been dug into heavily reinforced positions along the mainly static front line since the early weeks of the invasion. 

A total of 31 Russian tanks were destroyed as the Ukrainian forces moved in the south, along with one multiple rocket launcher. 

In the east, Ukrainian forces have also expanded their rapid offensive, seizing back more territory in areas annexed by Russia and threatening supply lines for its troops. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s army had seized back towns in a number of areas, but not give any further details. 

It comes after he confirmed the eastern city of Lyman, in Donetsk, has been “fully cleared” of Russian forces. 

Ukrainian forces recaptured the city on Saturday, as the Kremlin announced Russian troops were pulled out because they were being encircled. 

The recapture of the city, which had been under Russian control since May, marked another victory for Ukraine in its counteroffensive.