Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says his forces are reclaiming territory through several offensives, including a previously undisclosed operation near Kupiansk, where troops used underground gas pipelines to outflank Russian positions.

Zelenskiy described Ukraine’s battlefield position as its strongest in some time but said more Western air defence systems were needed.

Russia, however, maintained that its forces were advancing along the front line, claiming Ukraine’s military had been dismissed.