LATEST HEADLINES

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has finally acknowledged that his military is engaged in a "counter-offensive" a day after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said Kyiv's long-expected drive to retake Russian-controlled territory was well under way. The Ukrainian leader added that his generals were in a "positive mood" and that Russia did "not have long left."

• Following Putin's comments on the intensification of fighting, Russia's defense ministry announced that Kyiv's forces had continued "unsuccessful" attempts in the past 24 hours to launch attacks south of Donetsk and in Zaporizhzhia regions.

• According to Russian military bloggers, Ukrainian forces have been carrying out many of their assaults at night as they now have a tactical advantage over Russian troops due to Western-provided equipment with superior night optics systems, the Institute for the Study of War reported.

• Russia has announced it will no longer adhere to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe notifying other state parties that it will withdraw in 150 days time on November 7, 2023. As statement read, "a safe and stable balance of conventional arms in the north of Europe has been seriously undermined by the recent accession to NATO of Finland."

•  Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a timeline of attacks by Ukraine forces on the Kakhovka dam beginning in summer of 2022 and Moscow claims more than 300 HIMAR missiles were launched at the site contributing to the dams collapse last week. Although the last missile attack recorded by Moscow was in November seven months before the dam was breached.

• Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there is "no foundation, not even a flimsy one," for any kind of dialogue with Ukraine at the moment, but added that there were no preconditions for potential talks.

• Russia is still not satisfied with how a Black Sea grain deal is being implemented, a foreign ministry official said after meeting senior UN trade officials. Moscow has threatened to walk away from the grain deal if demands to improve its own food and fertilizer exports are not met.

• French President Emmanuel Macron has warned his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in a phone call about the consequences of delivering drones to Russia, and urged Iran to "immediately cease" its support for Russia.

IN DETAIL

Zelenskyy acknowledges counter-offensive

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has for the first time publicly acknowledged that his military is engaged in "counter-offensive and defensive operations" as Kyiv remains tight-lipped on its long-vaunted drive to retake territory.

Sporting his trademark khaki fatigues, Zelenskyy shrugged at a press conference when asked about President Putin's recent comments that Kyiv had begun its counter-offensive but made no progress.

"Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at," Zelenskyy said, standing alongside visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He added with a smile that his generals were "all in a positive mood. Pass that on to Putin." 

Putin had said on Friday that Ukrainian forces had certainly begun their expected counter-offensive with intense fighting meaning a heavy cost in casualties for the Ukrainian side.

"All counter-offensive attempts made so far have failed. But the offensive potential of the troops of the Kyiv regime is still preserved," he added.

The Russian leader's comments on Ukraine's counter-offensive, Zelenskyy said, were "interesting...It is important that Russia always feels this: That they do not have long left, in my opinion."

Later on Saturday in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy again provided few details while urging troops to keep fighting.

"Thank you to all those who holds their positions and those who advance," he said, citing the eastern and southern fronts, where fighting is heaviest.

Ukraine's general staff said its forces had repelled enemy attacks around Bakhmut and the long besieged town of Maryinka. Russian forces, it said, "continue to suffer heavy losses which they are trying to conceal".

Ukraine has said for months it has been planning a major counter-offensive. But it had denied the main operation has begun. Kyiv is expected to use thousands of troops that have been trained and equipped by the West, but Russia has built huge fortifications in occupied territory to prepare, while Kyiv also lacks air supremacy.

The south is seen as a key strategic priority for a Ukrainian push that could aim to recapture Europe's biggest nuclear plant and cut the Russian land bridge to the occupied Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, dividing Russian forces.

But with limited independent reporting from the front lines, it has been difficult to assess the state of the fighting.

Britain's Ministry of Defense said Ukraine had conducted "significant" operations in several eastern and southern parts in the last 48 hours, with Russian defenses breached in places.

"In some areas, Ukrainian forces have likely made good progress and penetrated the first line of Russian defenses. In others, Ukrainian progress has been slower," it said, also characterizing the Russian military's performance as mixed.

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