Ukraine's Zelenskiy says territory recaptured, forces on the offensive

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces were retaking territory through a series of offensives, including one operation previously

unannounced in which Kyiv's troops used gas pipelines to outflank Russian positions.



Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, said Kyiv's battlefield position was the strongest in some time in the 4-1/2-year-long war and could be made stronger with more deliveries of air defence systems from its Western allies.



Zelenskiy, citing a report by senior commanders, noted for the first time the "Veles" operation using pipelines in Ukraine's northeast. He also referred to an air assault operation in eastern Ukraine and the "Vivaldi" operation further to the north, designed to prevent Russian advances in key areas.



He said Operation Veles was conducted near Kupiansk, a city in northeastern Kharkiv region recaptured by Ukrainian forces in late 2022, but since under constant Russian pressure.