Ukraine army claims gains in north, south and east

The Ukrainian army said on Thursday it had recaptured territory from Russian troops in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, in the eastern Donbas region and in southern Ukraine.

"(Ukrainian) military units have penetrated 50 kilometers (31 miles) beyond the enemy lines," said Oleksiy Gromov, a senior official in the Ukrainian armed forces.

"During active operations in the Kharkiv area, more than 20 settlements have been liberated

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday his forces had recaptured several settlements in the Kharkiv region but did not give their names.

The city of the same name -- the second largest in Ukraine -- is regularly bombarded but Russian troops have never managed to seize it.

Gromov said more than 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) had been recaptured in the Kharkiv area.

Ukraine is also carrying out a counter-offensive on the southern front, including towards the Russian-held city of Kherson.

Gromov said Kyiv's troops had advanced "deep into the enemy's defenses, defenses from two to several dozens of kilometers" in the south.

"A number of settlements have been recaptured," he added, without giving details.

Ukrainian troops also claimed gains in the eastern Donbas region, including around Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.