Ukraine wages counteroffensive vs Russian forces in east

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukrainian forces have launched a counteroffensive near the Russianheld town of Izium in eastern Ukraine, a regional governor said on Saturday, in what could prove to be a serious setback for Moscow’s plans to capture the entire Donbas region.

Russian forces have focused much of their firepower on the Donbas in a “second phase” of their invasion that was announced on April 19, after they failed to reach the capital Kyiv from the north in the early weeks of the war.

But Ukraine has been retaking territory in its northeast, driving the Russians away from the second-largest Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces hit a series of military sites, including in the Donbas, killing at least 100 Ukrainian “nationalists.” Reuters could not independently verify the report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in Donbas remained very difficult, adding that Russian forces were still trying to salvage some kind of victory there.

Later on Saturday, Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the popular Eurovision Song Contest in Italy, a sign of how European public sentiment has swung in Kyiv’s favor since Russian forces launched an all-out assault against the country in February.

Ukraine was in fourth place based on jury voting, but viewer support catapulted the country into first place.

”Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe. Next year, Ukraine will host the Eurovision Song Contest,” Zelensky said in an online message. Eurovision’s winners traditionally get to host the event the following year.